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March 13, 2017 • 37 Comments

How To Print To PDF On IPhone With 3D Touch

Paul Horowitz

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You can save nearly anything as a PDF from iPhone, all it takes is using a little known 3D
Touch trick available only in Sharing action menus. Essentially this trick allows you to
perform the iOS equivalent of Print to PDF like you would see on desktops like a Mac or
Windows PC, except it’s on the mobile iOS world and available to iPhone users with 3D
Touch devices.

You can perform the Print to PDF trick in

iOS from just about any app, as long as
it has the Sharing button and could
theoretically print from it. This includes
Safari, Pages, Notes, and other apps
you’d expect
Touch trick available only in Sharing action menus. Essentially thistotrick
haveallows
this feature
you toin. For
demonstration
perform the iOS equivalent of Print to PDF like you would purposeslike
see on desktops here, we’llorwalk
a Mac
through
Windows PC, except it’s on the mobile iOS world and this to
available with Safariusers
iPhone where we3D
with will
Touch devices. use the print to PDF trick on a web
page.

How
You canto Printthe
perform toPrint
PDFto on
PDF trick in
iPhone
iOS with
from just 3Dany
about Touch
app, as long as
it has the Sharing button and could
This trick works the same to save just about anything as a PDF by
theoretically using
print fromthe
it. print function
This includes
within iOS, here’s how it works: Safari, Pages, Notes, and other apps
you’d expect to have this feature in. For
1. Open Safari (or another app you want to print to PDF from) and go to what you
demonstration purposes here, we’ll walk
want to save as a PDF file
through this with Safari where we will
2. Tap the Sharing action button, it looks like a square with an arrow flying out of
use the print to PDF trick on a web
it
page.

This trick works the same to save just about anything as a PDF by using the print function
within iOS, here’s how it works:

Open Safari (or another app you want to printHow

to PDFtofrom)
Print
andto
goPDF onyou
to what
want to save as a PDF file iPhone with 3D Touch
Tap the Sharing action button, it looks like a square with an arrow flying out of
it
3. Now tap on “Print”
4. Next, perform a 3D Touch firm press on the first page preview to access the
secret print to PDF screen option, this will open into a new preview window
5. Again tap on the Sharing action button at this new Print to PDF screen
6. Choose to save or share the document as a PDF – you can print to PDF and
send it through messages, email, AirDrop, copy it to your clipboard, save the
printed PDF to iCloud Drive, add it to DropBox, import it into iBooks, or any of
 the other options available in the sharing and saving actions

the other options available in the sharing and saving actions

Your freshly printed PDF file will be available with whatever means you shared or saved the
PDF. I typically choose to print the PDF
 and save it into iCloud Drive, but if you
Transform your system plan on sending it to another person
performance with the Crucial through Messages or email to get a
MX500 today.
signature on the document or something
similar, or send with AirDrop from the
iPhone or iPad to a Mac, you can easily
do that as well.

The ability to print to PDF is very popular

and widely used, so it’s a bit of a mystery
Shop Now » as to why iOS has this feature hidden
behind
and savea secret 3D Touch
it into iCloud gesture
Drive, but ifwithin
you
the
planPrint function,
on sending it rather thanperson
to another available as
an obvious menu item within the Print menus like Print to PDF
through is on a Mac
Messages or . As far as I can
tell, there is absolutely nothing obvious to suggest this feature exists at all andor
it’ssomething
basically
hidden, which is a little weird given how useful it is similar,
to saveorthings like web pages or
documents as PDF files. But now that you know it exists, you can print to PDF
, youtocan
your
easily
hearts delight, right from your iPhone. Perhaps a future version
do that of iOS will make this great
as well.
trick a bit more obvious, we’ll see.
The ability to print to PDF is very popular
To have this pdf printing action available to you, you willwidely
and need used,
a modern version
so it’s ofaiOS
a bit of on a
mystery
device with a 3D Touch equipped display. Earlier versions do iOS
as to why not support
has this the printhidden
feature to PDF
gesture, but if you do happen to have an old devicebehind
with an ancient3D
a secret iOS release
Touch you can
gesture use
within
a javascript bookmarklet trick instead for web pages
theonly.
Print function, rather than available as
an obvious menu item . As far as I can
Know of any other handy PDF saving tricks in iOS? Let us know in the comments.
tell, there is absolutely nothing obvious to suggest this feature exists at all and it’s basically
hidden, which is 
 Facebook a little weird
Twitter given
Morehow useful it is to save things like web pages or

documents as PDF files. But now that you know it exists, you can print to PDF to your
hearts delight, right from your iPhone. Perhaps a future version of iOS will make this great
Related
trick a bit more obvious, we’ll see.

To have this pdf printing action available to you, you will need a modern version of iOS on a
device with a 3D Touch equipped display. Earlier versions do not support the print to PDF
gesture, but if you do happen to have an old device with an ancient iOS release you can use
for web pages only.

Know of any other handy PDF saving

How to Save as PDF from iPhone
tricks in iOS? Let us knowHow
How to Save a Webpage as PDF
in the comments.
to Save Webpages to

Related
 or iPad with a Gesture on iPad and iPhone the Easy Way iBooks as PDF on iPhone & iPad
for Offline Access

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37 responses

Related
Bruce Fuller
July 26, 2020

Yup with iOS 14 in print preview the pinch works!!!! vs 3D tap

Reply
Previous Post Next Post
Bruce Fuller
July 16, 2020

7-16-2020 no longer works in iOS 14 Beta

I’ve used this process for years to save things or attach PDFs to text messages.
July 26, 2020
Now it offers the 3D Touch in print preview offers “Page Selection Options”
Bruce Fuller
I’ll be posting on iOS 14 beta feedback site
Yup with iOS 14 in print preview the pinch works!!!! vs 3D tap
37 responses
:(

Reply

Michael Ali
July 20, 2020

Try pinching out instead of 3D touching at the printer option screen. Worked for me.

Reply

B
June 22, 2020
:(
Just press it down and it will automatically take you to the Screen with the share button. I just
did it running iOS 13

July 20, 2020

Reply

Michael Ali
Moe
Try pinching out instead of 3D touching at the printer option screen. Worked for me.
April 22, 2020

I wouldn’t have figured this in a thousand years.

Thank you so much
June 22, 2020

Reply
B
Just press it down and it will automatically take you to the Screen with the share button. I just
Shankar Vignesh
did it running iOS 13c
April 14, 2020

Thanks this is awesome information

April 22, 2020
Reply

Moe
Zu
I wouldn’t have figured this in a thousand years.
April 12, 2020
Thank you so much
No longer appears to work in iOS 13. The pinch-zoom step does not do anything.

Reply
April 14, 2020

wbon Vignesh c
Shankar
April 12, 2020
Thanks this is awesome information
Printing PDF works in iOS 13, try spread and pinch gestures

Reply
April 12, 2020

John
Zu
November 20, 2019
No longer appears to work in iOS 13. The pinch-zoom step does not do anything.
Thanks so much for this article! One update you could make: you actually don’t need 3D Touch
to do this. I have an iPhone 5s and I was able to make this work by doing a 2-finger zoom in the
image, rather than a 3D press. Hope this helps someone else with an older model. Very useful
feature!

Reply

John
November 27, 2019

Thanks, John…YOUR suggestion worked! I guess there is no 3D Touch press, whatever…

the article should have explained what that was instead of me wasting 15 minutes googling
it, trying it, finding out it didn’t work. Who knew you had to find the solution in the
Thanks so much for this article! One update you could make: you actually don’t need 3D Touch
comments?
to do this. I have an iPhone 5s and I was able to make this work by doing a 2-finger zoom in the
Replyrather than a 3D press. Hope this helps someone else with an older model. Very useful
image,
feature!
J
October 17, 2019

November 27, 2019

Excellent!! Thanks so much.

John
Reply
Thanks, John…YOUR suggestion worked! I guess there is no 3D Touch press, whatever…
the article should have explained what that was instead of me wasting 15 minutes googling
Rosa Aksentowicz Tofte
it, trying it, finding out it didn’t work. Who knew you had to find the solution in the
February 15, 2018
comments?
Thanks for useful adwice , I need it so much to print something from
Websites, but I didn’t know about it at all – that is a great way to do it.

October 17, 2019

Have a wonderful day and Happy Valentines Day to you
Greetings from
J
Excellent!! Thanks so much.
Reply

Karl
March 13,15,
February 2017
2018

Pages about pages about pages about 3D touching burnout an idea where 3Dtouches
Rosa Aksentowicz
explained… weak. Tofte
Thanks for useful adwice , I need it so much to print something from
Reply
Websites, but I didn’t know about it at all – that is a great way to do it.

Have a wonderful day and Happy Valentines Day to you

Luis
Greetings from
March 13, 2017

Excellent feature, I always use it. However, it’s worth pointing out that this feature can also be
activated by pinching to zoom in on the first page preview instead of 3D touching. This is useful
March 13, 2017
on devices lacking the 3D touch feature, such as iPads.

Karl
Reply
Pages about pages about pages about 3D touching burnout an idea where 3Dtouches
explained… weak.
 Vivian
March 13, 2017

Thank you for commenting, Luis! That’s exactly what I needed to be able to use the feature
with my iPad.

Reply

Luis
March 13, 2017

You’re welcome Vivian. That’s exactly why I commented, I most often use the feature
on the ipad too. And even when I do use it on the iphone, I tend to forget it has touch
March 13, 2017
ID, so I often do the pinch and zooming there as well.

Vivian
Reply
Thank you for commenting, Luis! That’s exactly what I needed to be able to use the feature
with my iPad.
Dave Bartram
March 14, 2017

Wow! I did not read the original instructions and was doing the 3D Touch on the print icon
March 13, 2017
instead of the first page preview. I am also excited to learn about the pinch to zoom feature
which I can use on my iPad. Thanks to Luis and Jan-Lucas for your comments, and Paul
Luis for the original article!
Horowitz
You’re welcome Vivian. That’s exactly why I commented, I most often use the feature
Reply
on the ipad too. And even when I do use it on the iphone, I tend to forget it has touch
ID, so I often do the pinch and zooming there as well.

Howard Freeman
March 13, 2017

March 14, 2017

I have an iPhone 6 but can print PDF to open in GoodReader or send pages to Kindle.
Downloading to device when you have a signal means stuff can be read offline if you’re in the
Dave
sticks Bartram
without wifi or signal.
Wow! I did not read the original instructions and was doing the 3D Touch on the print icon
Howard
instead of the first page preview. I am also excited to learn about the pinch to zoom feature
Reply
which I can use on my iPad. Thanks to Luis and Jan-Lucas for your comments, and Paul
Horowitz for the original article!

Luis
March 14, 2017

March 13, 2017

You can also use this feature on your iphone 6, just pinch to zoom in instead of 3D touch
pressing.
Howard Freeman
Reply
I have an iPhone 6 but can print PDF to open in GoodReader or send pages to Kindle.
Downloading to device when you have a signal means stuff can be read offline if you’re in the
sticks without wifi or signal.
Roy Whelden
Howard
March 13, 2017

The ‘make a pdf’ trick works on non-3D touch devices as well. Simply go through steps 1-3
above with a file x and then pinch and expand x with the fingers. This CHANGES IT INTO A PDF!
March 14, 2017

Luis
Then use the share button to do what you will with the pdf version of x. Print it, export it to
iBook, Mail it, etcetera.

Reply

Luis
April 17, 2017

Yeah, and with a couple of advantages over the ‘save pdf to ibooks’ option from the share
sheet. The first is that the ‘save pdf to ibooks’ will, as stated, send the pdf file to ibooks
only whereas from the print dialog, the pdf can be sent to any compatible app on the
device. The second (which may be viewed by some as a disadvantage) is that converting a
website to pdf from Safari though the print dialog will not add the website URL, time, date,
Then
anduse thenumbers
page share button
at thetobottom
do what
of you willpage
every withof
the pdf
the versionpdf
resulting of x. Print it, export
document, it to pdf
like ‘save
iBook,
to ibooks’
Mail it,will.
etcetera.

Reply

April 17, 2017

Dave Bartram
March 13, 2017
Luis
This
Yeah,
trickand
didwith
not work
a couple
for me
of advantages
with my iPhone
over6sthePlus
‘save
and
pdf
iOSto 10.2.1.
ibooks’Other
option3Dfrom
Touch
the actions
share
work,
sheet.
butThe
Print
first
in the
is that
Sharing
the ‘save
box did
pdf not.
to ibooks’
It would
will,
beas
neat
stated,
if it did.
sendI use
the Save
pdf file
to to
Dropbox
ibooks for a
similar
only result.
whereas from the print dialog, the pdf can be sent to any compatible app on the
device. The second (which may be viewed by some as a disadvantage) is that converting a
Reply
website to pdf from Safari though the print dialog will not add the website URL, time, date,
and page numbers at the bottom of every page of the resulting pdf document, like ‘save pdf
to ibooks’ will.
Luis
March 13, 2017

make sure you’re following the procedure as outlined above and that 3D touch is enabled.
March 13, 2017
Alternatively, you can replicate the 3D touch press by pinching to zoom in to the preview
once you are in the print dialog. Pinch to zoom also works on devices that lack the 3D
Dave
touchBartram
feature, such as ipads.
This trick did not work for me with my iPhone 6s Plus and iOS 10.2.1. Other 3D Touch actions
Reply
work, but Print in the Sharing box did not. It would be neat if it did. I use Save to Dropbox for a
similar result.

Luis
March 13, 2017

March 13, 2017

Try pinching to zoom in instead of 3D touch pressing. You may still be able to enjoy the
feature that way.
Luis
Reply
make sure you’re following the procedure as outlined above and that 3D touch is enabled.
Alternatively, you can replicate the 3D touch press by pinching to zoom in to the preview
once you are in the print dialog. Pinch to zoom also works on devices that lack the 3D
Jan-Lucas de Vos
touch feature, such as ipads.
March 13, 2017

@Dave Bartram – I had the same problem on the same set up. I found that pushing a little
harder made the option box appear. The first attempt at it just brought up another screen to
March 13, 2017
print 1 or multiple pages.

Luis
Try pinching to zoom in instead of 3D touch pressing. You may still be able to enjoy the
 Reply

Tanya Metaksa
March 14, 2017

Just like Jan-Lucas stated up have to push pretty hard to get the Share icon. Then it
worked!

Reply

sea
March 14, 2017

By default 3D Touch requires a hard press. You can modify the 3D Touch pressure in
Settings however https://osxdaily.com/2015/11/13/change-3d-touch-pressure-
March 14, 2017
sensitivity-iphone/

ITanya Metaksa
have mine on soft pressure and it works well for me.
Just like Jan-Lucas stated up have to push pretty hard to get the Share icon. Then it
Reply
worked!

Luis
March 14, 2017
March 14, 2017
Alternatively, you can pinch to zoom in instead of 3D touch pressing.
sea
Reply
By default 3D Touch requires a hard press. You can modify the 3D Touch pressure in
Settings however
DCJ001
March 13, 2017
I have mine on soft pressure and it works well for me.
The PDF will be formatted in a better way if, between steps 1 & 2, you enable Safari Reader
mode by pressing on the 3 lines at the left end of the URL.

ReplyMarch 14, 2017

Luis
Luigi
Alternatively, you can pinch to zoom in instead of 3D touch pressing.
March 13, 2017

Yeah, I usually do that when possible (not every website supports the safari reading mode).
Also, in step 4 the 3D touch press may be replaced by pinching to zoom in on the first page
March 13, 2017
preview for devices that don’t have 3D touch. This includes all iphone models prior to the
6s, ipads and ipod touches running, as stated above, a modern version of iOS.
DCJ001
Reply
The PDF will be formatted in a better way if, between steps 1 & 2, you enable Safari Reader
mode by pressing on the 3 lines at the left end of the URL.

Luis
March 13, 2017

March 13, 2017

That’s true, I do that whenever possible. Not all websites allow safari reading mode.

Luigi
Yeah, I usually do that when possible (not every website supports the safari reading mode).
Also, in step 4 the 3D touch press may be replaced by pinching to zoom in on the first page
 Reply

Vivian
March 13, 2017

Great tip! Thank you.

Reply

Dick Warner
March 13, 2017

I haven’t yet tried it from the phone, but I frequently do it from my Macbook Pro. I find I get
better results (higher resolution) when exporting to PDF from within my CAD program
(Vectorworks) than I get using the print function. Is there a way to set the resolution of PDF
March 13, 2017
generated in Print to PDF?

Vivian
Reply
Great tip! Thank you.

DCJ001
March 14, 2017

March 13, 2017

I believe that there is no way to set the resolution of PDF generated in Print to PDF. I
am very comfortable with the default resolution.
Dick Warner
Reply yet tried it from the phone, but I frequently do it from my Macbook Pro. I find I get
I haven’t
better results (higher resolution) when exporting to PDF from within my CAD program
(Vectorworks) than I get using the print function. Is there a way to set the resolution of PDF
Luis
generated in Print to PDF?
March 13, 2017

Great feature, indeed, I use it all the time. However, the article does not mention that this feature
is also available to users of non-3D touch devices such as ipads, ipod touch or iphone models
prior March
to the14,
6s,2017
as long as they are running a modern version of iOS. For those users, the 3D
touch press from step 4 above can be replaced by a pinch to zoom in gesture as follows:
DCJ001
4. Next, pinchthat
I believe open to zoom
there is no in
wayonto
the first
set thepage preview
resolution of to
PDFaccess the secret
generated print
in Print to to PDF
PDF. I
screen option, this will open into a new preview
am very comfortable with the default resolution. window

I believe this is important for two reasons: first, because this kind of feature might be extremely
useful on an ipad, where people usually edit and share documents or websites more often than
on an 13,
March iphone.
2017 Personally, I print to pdf more often on my ipad than on my 3D-touch capable
iphone 6s. Second, because even some of those of us who own a 3D-touch capable device,
myself included, tend to forget that the feature is there. More than once, I have found myself
Luis
instinctively accessing print to pdf by pinching to zoom instead of 3D touching on my iphone 6s.
Great
Not tofeature,
mentionindeed, I use itnever
that I almost all theremember
time. However, the article
that I also have 3Ddoes not mention
shortcuts thathome
from the this feature
is also available
screen to users
icons of many of non-3D touch devices such as ipads, ipod touch or iphone models
apps.
prior to the 6s, as long as they are running a modern version of iOS. For those users, the 3D
touch press from step 4 above can be replaced by a pinch to zoom in gesture as follows:
Reply

4. Next, pinch open to zoom in on the first page preview to access the secret print to PDF
screen option, this will open into a new preview window
Luis
March 13, 2017
I believe this is important for two reasons: first, because this kind of feature might be extremely
useful on an ipad, where people usually edit and share documents or websites more often than
on an iphone. Personally, I print to pdf more often on my ipad than on my 3D-touch capable
 I just love this trick. I believe it was just introduced with iOS 10. It’s worth noting, however that
although printing to pdf does not work in older versions of iOS it does works on older non-3D
touch devices such as iphone 6 or earlier, ipads and ipod touch as long as they are capable of
running iOS 10 or later. On those devices, replace the 3D touch in step 4 above with a zoom in
gesture (pinch open). This would be the alternate version of step 4 for non-3D touch devices, not
included in the article:

4. Next, pinch open to zoom in on the first page preview to access the secret print to PDF
screen option, this will open into a new preview window

Reply

Sbordocj
I just love
March 25,this trick. I believe it was just introduced with iOS 10. It’s worth noting, however that
2017
although printing to pdf does not work in older versions of iOS it does works on older non-3D
Thanks
touch so much
devices such for
as this note!!
iphone 6 orI was going
earlier, nuts
ipads trying
and ipodtotouch
figureasout what
long as Ithey
wasare
doing wrong.
capable of
My phone has 3D touch but apparently not a recent enough iOS to use it for
running iOS 10 or later. On those devices, replace the 3D touch in step 4 above with a zoom in PDF. Without
your comment
gesture I would
(pinch open). Thisstill be pushing
would and pushing
be the alternate andofpushing….LOL
version step 4 for non-3D touch devices, not
included in the article:
Reply
4. Next, pinch open to zoom in on the first page preview to access the secret print to PDF
screen option, this will open into a new preview window

Leave March
a Reply
25, 2017

Sbordocj
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Thanks so much for this note!! I was going nuts trying to figure out what I was doing wrong.
My phone has 3D touch but apparently not a recent enough iOS to use it for PDF. Without
Comment
your comment I would still be pushing and pushing and pushing….LOL

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