Most people do not realise that the iPhone has everything needed to create a PDF built right in. There is no dedicated button for it, but there are tools across the Photos app, the Files app, and the Notes app to help you quickly convert an image to a PDF. So, in this guide, we will show you how to make a PDF on an iPhone without any third-party apps.
How to Make PDF in iPhone
I didn't know my Apple iPhone could convert images to PDF until I looked online and found several Reddit threads and Apple tutorials explaining how. There are multiple ways to go about it, and I don't have to install a separate app either. So, here's how to make a PDF on iPhone with a few easy-to-follow methods.
Convert Images to PDF in Photos App
This is the quickest method for converting a single photo to PDF and works entirely within the Photos app.
- Launch the Photos app on your iPhone and open the image you want to convert to PDF.
- Tap on the Share icon at the bottom left.
- Scroll down the Share Sheet and select Print.
- On the print preview screen, zoom in on the image to open it as a PDF preview.
- Tap on the Share icon in the top right and select Save to Files.
- Choose a folder and tap on Save.
This does not delete the original photo, similar to the Clean Up tool in iPhone and only creates a PDF copy of it.
Scan Documents to Make PDF Files on iPhone
The Files app on iPhone comes with an OCR document-scanning feature, which automatically converts any scanned image to a PDF document. Here's how to use it:
- Open the Files app on your iPhone and tap on the 3-dots icon at the top right.
- Tap on Scan Documents and point it to the image you want to scan.
- Once scanned, tap on the checkmark icon in the top right.
- Then tap Save on the top right again to keep it as a PDF.
Use iPhone Files App to Convert Images to PDFs
Another way to convert images to PDF that I have started using regularly on my iPhone Air is through the Files app. It is slightly longer but works with multiple images at once. It is a better alternative than the paid app I was using to make PDFs, and I cancelled the subscription immediately after discovering this method.
- Launch the Photos app on your iPhone and open the image you want to convert to PDF.
- Tap on the share icon and select Save to Files.
- Here, choose a folder and tap on Save.
- Open the Files app and navigate to the folder where you saved the image.
- Now, long press the image and go to Quick Actions > Create PDF.
This method also preserves the original image dimensions without any compression.
Using the iPhone Notes App
This method is best when you want to combine a photo with text or annotations before converting to PDF.
- Open the Notes app on your iPhone and tap on the compose icon to start a new note.
- Tap anywhere on the note, then hit the paperclip icon above the keyboard.
- Next, select Choose Photo or Video to insert the image.
- Select the image you want to use and tap on the checkmark icon in the top right.
- Once the image is added, tap on the share icon at the top right again.
- In the share sheet, tap on View More and select Print.
- Now, pinch outward on the preview to open it as a PDF.
- Tap on the share icon again and tap Save to Files to save the PDF.
This is one of the best ways to make PDFs on an iPhone with text, besides using a third-party app or screen recording on iPhone.
Where Are PDFs Saved on iPhone?
PDFs created using the methods above are stored in the Files app, in whichever folder was selected during the save step. If iCloud Drive is set up, the PDF will also be accessible across all Apple devices signed into the same Apple ID.
To find a recently saved PDF, open the Files app and tap on the Recents tab. Alternatively, search for the file name or type ".pdf" to find it quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does converting a photo to PDF reduce quality on iPhone?
No. Using the built-in Print method preserves the original image resolution. The photo is placed into the PDF container without any compression, so the output quality is the same as the source image.
Q. Can a screenshot be converted to PDF on an iPhone?
Yes. Screenshots saved to the Photos app can be converted using the same Print method or Files app method since screenshots are treated as standard image files.
Q. Can HEIC files be converted to PDF on iPhone?
Yes. All the built-in methods above work with HEIC files, which are the default photo format on iPhone. iOS handles the HEIC format natively, so no conversion to JPEG is needed before creating a PDF.
This is all you need to know on how to make a PDF on an iPhone from images and documents, and I think I have covered all grounds in the guide. I could have included other apps from the App Store, but since the native options are already good enough, it would be best to stick with what's easily accessible. With that said, I hope you find this guide useful.
