If you have a document on your Mac that you need to convert to PDF, you’ll be happy to know that it’s a very simple process. The best part is that you don’t even need to download any software, as the functionality is built right into macOS. So, if you want to send a Word document but don’t want the recipient to change the details, creating a PDF version will only take you a few minutes if you follow these simple steps.
How to Convert a Document to PDF on a Mac
As noted above, macOS has the tools you need to create a PDF version of an existing file. Here’s how to do it.
Open the file on your Mac.
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Before you can convert a file to PDF, you need to open it on your desktop. Whether that’s in Word, Pages, Safari, Preview, or any other application.
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In the menu bar, choose File > Printor press Command+P.
Click the drop-down arrow next to PDF
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Find the PDF at the bottom of the window and click the down arrow next to it. You will see several options, including Save as PDF.
If you don’t see the PDF as shown above, you may need to click on the printer options or destination, in which case you should see the Save as PDF option.
Select Save as PDF
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Now you have to choose Save as PDF.
Choose a name and location for the file
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Name the file and tell your Mac where you want it to be stored
Password protect the file (optional)
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If you want to password protect the file, you can click Security options
Enter password details (optional)
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Select the Require a password to open the document and enter the password you want to use. Now it won’t open without the correct password.
Save File
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When you are satisfied, click To safeguard and you should have a PDF version of the original file that you can send to colleagues or store for yourself.
There you have it, it’s simple. You can use this technique for traditional documents, web pages, images, and pretty much any static file. If you want to do more with a PDF, you should also check out our guides on how to edit a PDF on Mac.
This is the easiest way to create a PDF, but if you want to create a PDF with fillable forms, we recommend using one of the tools in our roundup of the best PDF editors for Mac.
You can also achieve the same feat on Apple mobile devices, as we explain in our tutorial on how to create a PDF on iPhone.
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