How to Save a Photo as a PDF on iPhone

What To Know

  • To make sharing pictures easier on iPhone, save as a PDF. Avoid compatibility issues when sharing photos and images across different devices and operating systems.
  • Group pictures together to create a digital photo album or file an insurance claim.
  • Keep photo metadata, like image location tags, private.

Images on your iPhone are usually saved as JPGs or PNGs, which work well for most uses. However, sometimes it's much easier to send a PDF image than it is to upload the original file type, especially when you want to keep things like image location and other metadata private. Here's how to save a picture as a PDF on iPhone.

    How to Save a Photo as a PDF on iPhone & iPad

    Since PDFs are a universal file type, saving an image to PDF is a simple way to ensure your file is safe and can be read by any phone or computer without an error. For more tips on making the best use of your Apple devices, like how to safely eject a USB from your Mac, sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter. Now, here's how to use Photos to create a PDF on an iPhone.

    1. Open the Photos app and make sure you're on the Library tab.

      Home screen with Photos app marked.
    2. Tap Select.

      how to make a pdf on iphone tap select at the top of the screen
    3. Tap the image(s) you want to save as a PDF. A blue check icon will appear in the corner to indicate selected photos.

      how to convert picture to pdf on iphone without app select photos
    4. Tap the Share icon.

      tap share icon to convert photo to pdf iphone
    5. Scroll down and tap PrintNOTE: do NOT tap Save to Files now. This will not convert your image to a PDF.

      tap print to convert photo to pdf iphone
    6. On the Print Options screen, tap the Share icon in the upper right, next to Print.

      tap share icon to convert picture to jpg on iphone free
    7. Scroll down and tap Save to Files.

      how to convert photo to pdf on iphone tap save to files
    8. Now, the file picker interface will open. Use this to navigate to the folder on your iPhone where you'd like to save the PDF. You can tap "Photo" at the bottom to change the name of the file. When you're finished, tap Save at the upper-right corner of your screen.

      choose where you want to save pdf on iphone
    9. Here's how to open the saved PDF file on your phone to review it or share it.  First, open the Files app.

      Home screen with Files app icon marked.
    10. This will open a file selection screen just like the one you used to save the PDF. Tap the folder you saved your PDF to.  
    11. In the folder you previously chose, tap the icon for the PDF file.

      tap the icon for the pdf file to open pdf
    12. This will open the file in a simple PDF viewer.  You can review the pictures here, and if it looks good to you, you can tap the Share icon in the lower left to send it on.

      tap the share icon to send your pdf

    FAQ

    • Why convert a photo to a PDF on your iPhone? A PDF (Portable Document Format) is easy to share and open across different devices and operating systems, while keeping the same formatting and resolution.
    • How do I save a picture as a PDF for free on my iPhone? We'll show you how to convert a picture to a PDF on your iPhone with the Photos app, as shown above, and even how to save an email as a PDF.  
    • What other iPhone photo file types can I convert to PDF format? You can convert a PNG, TIFF, PSD, and JPEG. You can also convert multiple images to PDF; just choose more than one photo in step four

    Now, you can use this trick to save any iPhone photo or image as a PDF for easier sharing without compatibility issues. Once it is in PDF format, you can still edit it directly on your iPhone (and iPad) using the Files app. Next, learn how to download a PDF from an email, and how to save a webpage as a PDF

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    Author Details

    Emma Chase's picture

    Author Details

    Emma Chase

    Emma Chase is a freelance writer for iPhone Life. She has her Bachelors degree in Communication from the University of Northern Iowa. Emma has worked in many sectors in her professional career, including the higher education, finance, and nonprofit. Emma lives in small-town Iowa with her husband and two children. When she’s not geeking out over the newest Apple product or wrangling her kids, Emma enjoys a good book, crocheting, and trying new foods.