Recently, Apple rolled out the new iOS 15 update, which, honestly, brought quite a few neat features for iPhones and iPads. People are excited about stuff like Live Text, a fresh Safari design, Focus modes, FaceTime with Android friends, faster Siri responses, and even hiding your email address—pretty cool, right? But what caught my eye is a small utility tweak that’s super useful—being able to turn any document into a PDF without hunting for third-party apps. That’s kinda awesome because, let’s face it, sometimes those third-party converters are a mess or just don’t work as expected. Now, on iOS 15, you can print directly to PDF, which saves both time and the hassle of downloading extra software. Not everyone’s clued in on this feature yet, and honestly, it’s not obvious unless you dig into the print options. So, if you want to convert a webpage or a document into a PDF on your iPhone or iPad, this guide will walk you through it. It’s simple once you get the hang of it, and it works pretty reliably once you know where to look. Expect to see your document morph into a PDF preview and a straightforward save option—no extra apps needed. Just be aware that on some setups, the print menu can be a bit tricky to find, but after a couple of tries, it’s smooth sailing.
How to Print to PDF on your iPhone and iPad on iOS 15
Method 1: Using the Share Menu and Print Options
This is the main way most folks stumble into the PDF conversion. The reason it works is because iOS cleverly uses the print function to generate PDFs—kind of weird, but it functions well enough once you get used to it. Usually, you’ll see this when you share a document, webpage, or image.
- Open the app with the document or webpage you want to convert. Could be Safari, Notes, Files, or even your email app. The goal here is to find the share option—usually, it’s a box with an arrow pointing upward, or a menu titled Share. Sometimes, a three-dot menu at the top right—but not always, so look around.
- If there isn’t a clear share icon, look for options like Export or Print. In most apps, it’s just a matter of tapping the share button, then scrolling down a bit to find Print.
- Once you tap Print, the print preview window will pop up. On some apps, this step is automatic, but in others, you may need to choose a specific print setting first. For example, in Safari, you tap the share button, then choose Print from the menu.
- In the print preview, pinch outwards on the document’s preview (think of zooming in).This is the tricky part—clicking or pinching on the preview turns the print preview into a full PDF view. Keep pinching until your document turns into a PDF snapshot. Why? Because iOS interprets this gesture as a cue to generate PDF options.
- When you see the PDF preview, tap the Share icon again—usually it’s in the top right corner. From here, you can save, share, or open the PDF, depending on what you need.
- Tap Save to Files and pick a location—like iCloud Drive, On My iPhone, or any connected storage. Hit Save, and voilà, your document is now a PDF stored where you want it.
On some devices or apps, the pinch-to-zoom trick may be weird or not work immediately—because, of course, Apple has to make it harder than necessary. Usually, just a bit of fiddling with the pinch gesture does the trick. If not, try closing the app and doing it again, or switching between portrait and landscape modes. Sometimes these little glitches are just temporary.
Method 2: Using the Files App for Quick Saving
If you already have a document open and want to quickly convert it, another method is through the Files app. This one’s more straightforward if your file is saved locally or in iCloud.
- Open the document, image, or webpage you want to turn into PDF. If it’s a webpage, use Safari and open the page you want to save.
- Tap the Share button, then find and select Print as before.
- Pinch out on the preview to generate the PDF—a familiar gesture now, huh?
- Tap the Share icon, then select Save to Files. Choose your preferred folder and tap Save. It’s way faster if you know exactly where you want the file stored.
The key is just remembering that this print-to-PDF trick works best with the share menu and the pinch-out gesture. Honestly, it feels a bit accidental the first few times, but once you get used to it, it’s a huge time-saver.
Sum Up
This feature isn’t just limited to Apple’s built-in apps. As long as you can access the share menu and print options, converting pretty much anything into a PDF is possible. If you’re still confused or it’s not working right away, it might be worth restarting your device or updating to the latest iOS 15 version. Sometimes, little bugs can interfere with these tiny workflows.
Remember, some apps might not support the print-to-PDF shortcut properly, so if one method refused to cooperate, try another or do it from a different app.
Summary
- Use the share button and tap Print.
- Pinch out on the preview to generate the PDF.
- Share or save the PDF via the share sheet.
- Pick your save location carefully; iCloud Drive or local storage work great.
Wrap-up
This whole printing-to-PDF feature in iOS 15 is kind of under the radar, but it’s surprisingly handy once you stumble across it. Sure, the pinch gesture feels weird at first, but it becomes second nature. Whether you’re saving a web page, a receipt, or a work doc, this little trick can save you from hunting down third-party apps or dealing with clunky workflows. Just keep in mind, on some setups, it might take a few tries to get it right. But hey, once it clicks, it’s all smooth sailing. Fingers crossed, this helps save some time or frustration somewhere along the line.