Everyone eventually comes across a webpage they need to save for offline research or sharing with others. You could just copy and paste the link, but sometimes it’s nice to have the page as an image you can view offline, mark up, or print. The most flexible solution is to create a PDF file you can view or send anywhere.
With our step-by-step instructions, let’s examine the most popular browsers and see how they save webpages as PDFs. If you need more conversion options, we can also help you convert them to JPG, convert to .docx, or convert to Excel.
Note: These instructions are accurate for the latest version of the respective browsers at the time of publication. Older versions may have slightly different methods but should be broadly similar.
Desktop browsers
For most browsers, the Print function is the fastest and most effective way to save a webpage to PDF. We know choosing Save Page As… would be the logical choice, but that option is for saving pages in a web format, not as a contained file like a PDF. The Print option is the tool you need.
Chrome
Step 1: Click the Three-Dot icon in the top-right corner and choose Print… from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, press Ctrl + P (Command+P if on Mac).
Step 2: In the resulting pop-up window, click the Down Arrow to the right of Destination and select Save As PDF in the drop-down menu. You’ll see a preview generated in the left pane, as shown above.
Step 3: Click More Settings to view options for changing the paper size, scaling, and so on if needed.
Step 4: Once you make the necessary changes, click the Save button and select a destination on your PC. Click a second Save button to complete.
Microsoft Edge
This method applies to the newer browser based on Chromium. While an earlier version of Edge exists, it will no longer be supported after March 9, 2021. The screenshot below is of Chromium Edge.
Step 1: Click the Three-Dot icon in the top-right corner and choose Print from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, press Ctrl + P.
Step 2: In the following pop-up window, click the Down Arrow displayed under Printer and select the Save As PDF option listed on the drop-down menu, as shown above.
Step 3: Under Layout and Pages, you can choose the orientation and page range you want to save the webpage in. You can also click on More Settings to view and adjust other options like paper size and scaling.
Step 4: Once you make the necessary changes, click the Save button and select a destination on your PC. Click a second Save button to complete.
Safari
There are actually two ways to save a webpage as a PDF file in Safari:
Step 1: With Safari active, click File on the menu bar and choose the Export As PDF… option on the drop-down menu.
Step 2: On the following pop-up window, enter a file name, select a destination, and click the Save button. That’s it!
If you want a little more control over the PDF’s information, Safari provides a longer method:
Step 1: With Safari active, click File on the menu bar and choose the Print… option on the drop-down menu. Alternatively, press Command + P to open the printer window.
Step 2: On the following pop-up, click the Down Arrow located in the bottom-left corner, as shown above. Select Save As PDF on the resulting drop-down menu.
Step 3: Another pop-up appears. Here, you can enter a file name, title, subject, author, and keyboards, and you can also set security options. When you’re done, select a destination and click the Save button.
If you want to edit the PDF further, we suggest taking a look at some of the best free PDF editors.
Firefox
Out of the four popular desktop browsers, Firefox is the only one that doesn’t include a built-in PDF printer. Instead, it relies on the Microsoft Print to PDF function in Windows 10.
Step 1: Click the Three Horizontal Lines icon located in the top-right corner and select Print… in the drop-down menu.
Step 2: In the following window, click the Print button in the top-left corner. As a quicker alternative, you can simply type Ctrl + P to open the print menu.
Step 3: Select Microsoft Print to PDF from the printer options and click the Print button when ready.
Step 4: Choose a name and save location and then click the Save button.
The process is similar on Firefox for Mac, but forgoes the Microsoft Print to PDF. To print a PDF using Firefox on Mac:
Step 1: With Firefox open, select the icon with three horizontal lines, then scroll down to Print. Alternatively, hit Command+P.
Step 2: In the Print dialog, go down to the bottom left corner and select PDF from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Select Print, and then form the Save dialog, give your PDF a name and choose a save location.
Alternatively, extensions can give Firefox the ability to save to a PDF. PDF Mage is a popular, well-liked option.
Extensions and web tools
Do you want more options for creating specific kinds of PDFs? Do you need to customize PDFs before they’re created? There are many online extensions and web-based tools that specialize in converting HTML to PDFs, with plenty of options for how the PDF looks and where it goes. These options are particularly useful for developers and businesses that need to convert multiple pages at once.
Paperplane: Paperplane is a developer-friendly conversion tool with a variety of options. For quick users, you can just drop in a and choose a page size and orientation to quickly create a PDF. Businesses may want to pay for a package that includes more options for in-depth PDF management (free trials available). Developers can also set up an API key with a Paperplane code to include the tool wherever they need it!
PDFShift: PDFShift is a quick online tool designed for speed. For long-term use, all you need is a free account, but the real value is in the full set of tools that allow for mass conversions of HTML at high speeds for serious projects.
NovaPDF: NovaPDF provides business-friendly licenses for its PDF creator and manager. You can simply print to NovaPDF to automatically generate a PDF and customize the “printing” job with NovaPDF’s options for overlays, watermarks, digital signatures, and more. It’s a good tool for more detailed work.
Adobe Acrobat: If you pay for a subscription to Adobe services (or you’re willing to start a free trial), there is an additional option. Adobe allows you to install a PDF toolbar in your browser. This creates a simple Convert to PDF button that allows for super-fast conversions on the fly. The toolbar works on Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Firefox and could be more convenient if you regularly use Adobe tools.
Mobile browsers
Safari for iOS/iPadOS
There are two ways to create a PDF using Safari on the iPhone and iPad. The first method uses the screenshot tool:
Step 1: Open a webpage in Safari and grab a screenshot. This method depends on your device.
Step 2: A thumbnail appears in the screen’s bottom-left corner. Tap it.
Step 3: On the following screen, tap the Full Page tab and perform any markups you want to include. Tap Done when you’re finished.
Step 4: Tap Save PDF to Files on the resulting popover. Select a destination on your device and tap Save to complete.
The second method uses the Share tool:
Step 1: Open the webpage in Safari and tap the Share button.
Step 2: On the drop-down (iPad) or pop-up (iPhone) Share Sheet, select Options listed under the webpage title, as shown above.
Step 3: Select PDF on the following list and then tap Back (iPad) or Done (iPhone).
Step 4: On the Share Sheet, tap Save to Files.
Step 5: Select a destination and then tap Save.
Chrome for Android and iOS
Step 1: Open your desired webpage in the Chrome app, tap the three-dot icon located in the top-right corner, and tap Share in the drop-down menu.
Step 2: A gray pop-up menu appears on the bottom of the screen. From this menu, select Print.
Step 3: Tap the down arrow at the top-right corner of the screen and choose the Save As PDF option on the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Tap the down arrow underneath Paper Size and choose your document options (size, color, pages) if necessary.
Step 5: Once you’re ready to save your PDF, tap on the blue circle PDF icon on the right side of the screen.
Step 6: Give your file a name by scrolling to the bottom of the following screen and then clicking Save. You also have the opportunity to save your location simply by pressing the three horizontal lines (you’ll see these on the top left of your screen). You can select from a variety of options, including the Downloads folder, somewhere else in your device’s storage, or in your Google Drive. You’re also able to save PDFs directly from Chrome if you’re using an iOS device; however, the instructions are slightly different.
Step 1: Tap on the Share icon (you can find this in the top right corner of your screen) and scroll down a bit until you see the Print option. Select it.
Step 2: From the Print menu, use both of your fingers to make a pinching motion that will allow you to zoom in and get a closer view. Doing this will cause the page will automatically transform into a full-screen PDF that you can examine.
Step 3: On the top right of the screen, select the Share icon again, then pick Save to Files. You can then enter the name you want to call your file, and that’s it – now you have a PDF of your webpage. Keep in mind that you can also implement this process on Firefox for iOS.
It’s a good idea to download the Convert Web to PDF app, which lets you quickly convert to PDF and contains an impressive assortment of editing tools. This app gives you the option of converting only the text or background. You can also define a table of contents or quality levels if you prefer.
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Above article first published by . We curated and re-published.