How to Convert a File Into PDF

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This wikiHow teaches you how to turn a text, photo, Microsoft Office, or XPS file into a PDF (Portable Document Format) file. You can do this on both Windows and Mac computers by using built-in features.

Things You Should Know Method 1 of 3:

Using Windows Print to PDF

Step 1 Open the file you want to convert.

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Remember that you can only convert these types of files:
Text files (.txt)
Microsoft Office documents (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx, and so on)
Photos (.jpg, .png, .bmp, and so on)
XPS files (.xps)

Step 2 Open the

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Step 3 Click the current printer

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Step 4 Click Microsoft Print to PDF.

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Step 5 Click Print.

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Click Print . It's usually at the bottom of the menu, though you'll click Print at the top of the menu if you're using a Microsoft Office program (e.g., Microsoft Word). A File Explorer window will appear.

Step 6 Enter a name for your document.

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Step 7 Select <a href=a save location." width="460" height="345" />

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Step 8 Click Save.

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Click Save . It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will save your changes and create a PDF version of your file in your selected save location. [3] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source

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Using Mac Preview

Step 1 Know which files you can turn into PDFs with Preview.

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Step 2 Select the file.

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Step 3 Click File.

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Click File . It's in the upper-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear. [4] X Research source

Step 4 Select Open With.

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\n"> Select Open With . This is in the File menu. A pop-out menu will appear.

Step 5 Click Preview.

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\n"> Click Preview . You'll find it in the pop-out menu. Doing so prompts your file to open in Preview.

Step 6 Click File again.

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\n"> Click File again. The drop-down menu will reappear.

Step 7 Click <a href=Export as PDF…." width="460" height="345" />

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Click Export as PDF . This is in the drop-down menu. A pop-up window will display. [5] X Research source

Enter a name. In the "Name" text box, type in the name you want to use for your PDF file.

Step 9 Select <a href=a save location." width="460" height="345" />

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Select a save location. Click the "Where" box, then click the folder in which you want to save your PDF in the resulting drop-down menu.

Step 10 Click Save.

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Click Save . It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will convert your document into a PDF and then store it in your selected save location.

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Using the Mac File Menu

Step 1 Know which files you can convert into PDFs with the File menu.

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Step 2 Open your document.

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\n"> Open your document. Double-click the document you want to convert to open it in its program.

Step 3 Click File.

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Click File . This is in the upper-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear. [6] X Research source

Step 4 Click Print.

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Step 5 Click the

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Click the "PDF" menu. This is in the lower-left side of the window. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu. [8] X Research source

Step 6 Click Save as PDF.

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\n"> Click Save as PDF . It's in the drop-down menu. [9] X Research source

Step 7 Enter a name.

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\n"> Enter a name. In the "Name" text box, type in the name you want to use for your PDF file.

Step 8 Select <a href=a save location." width="460" height="345" />

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Select a save location. Click the "Where" box, then click the folder in which you want to save your PDF in the resulting drop-down menu.

Step 9 Click Save.

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Click Save . It's a blue button at the bottom of the window. Doing so will convert your document into a PDF and then store it in your selected save location.

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Expert Q&A

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If you're in a hurry, you can use an online converter such as SmallPDF to convert multiple files into PDFs.

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Not all file types will translate over to the PDF style, so you may encounter some formatting errors.

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