Skip to main content

How to convert Apple Pages to PDF

how to convert apple pages pdf files macbook
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Apple Pages, like Microsoft Word, is a full-featured document creation tool. Because you can use it for free on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, this makes it a solid choice for creating reports, contracts, essays, and more.

If you need to create a PDF file, you can compose your document in Pages and then export and save it as a PDF easily. Here, we’ll show you how to convert Apple Pages to PDF on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Mac, iPhone, or iPad

  • Apple Pages

Convert Pages to PDF on Mac

It takes only a minute or two to convert your document in Pages to a PDF file on a Mac. Once you've converted it, just throw it into a Mac PDF editor, and you can make any adjustments you need.

Step 1: Open your Pages document and select File from the menu bar.

Step 2: Navigate to Export to and choose PDF in the pop-out menu.

Export to PDF in the Pages File menu.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 3: In the pop-up window, confirm you’re on the PDF tab.

If you have images in your document, you can choose the quality in the drop-down box. You can pick Best, Better, or Good noting that the higher the quality, the larger the file size.

Image Quality setting for an exported PDF.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 4: Next, you can check the boxes to include comments and smart annotations.

If you want to require a password to open the PDF, check that box. Then, enter the password, verify it, and if you want to, include a hint.

Password settings for an exported PDF.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 5: To adjust the Accessibility tags for large tables in your document, expand the Advanced options section. Use the drop-down list to pick On, Off, or Default.

When you finish setting the document options, select Next.

Accessibility settings for exporting from Pages to PDF.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 6: Then, choose a location to save the exported PDF, optionally edit the name and add tags, and pick Export.

You can then head to the location where you saved the PDF to open, send, or share it where needed.

Pages dialog box to export a PDF.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Convert Pages to PDF on iPhone and iPad

Converting a Pages document to a PDF is just as easy on iPhone and iPad as it is on Mac.

Step 1: Open the document in Pages and tap the three dots on the top right.

Step 2: Select Export and then pick PDF.

Step 3: Choose a method to save, send, or share the file and follow the subsequent prompts.

Converting a Pages document to a PDF file is simple to do on your Apple device, so keep this in mind the next time you need to create a PDF.

For more, look at how to edit a PDF on your device or our list of the best PDF editors.

Editors' Note: Article was checked on March 1, 2023, and confirmed that the steps and information included are still accurate.

Sandy Writtenhouse
Sandy has been writing about technology since 2012. Her work has appeared on How-To Geek, Lifewire, MakeUseOf, iDownloadBlog…
How to convert PDF to PowerPoint
PDFGear conversion.

If you use Microsoft PowerPoint, converting a PDF to into a PowerPoint is a great way to make complex documents more digestible for presentations. It doesn't have to be complicated, either. There are free apps and web services that can do it for you quickly and easily.

Follow these steps, and you'll be turning PDFs into PowerPoint presentations in no time.

Read more
You can finally try out Apple Intelligence on your Mac. Here’s how
macOS Sequoia being introduced by Apple's Craig Federighi at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024.

The second developer beta of macOS Sequoia is open for business and it includes Apple Intelligence features. It looks like anyone can try it out as long as you're not in China. That includes people in the EU -- even though the AI features might not launch there right away. The features available for testing include Writing Tools, Siri, Safari and Mail summaries, Smart Replies, Memory Movies, transcription features, Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode, and a few more. If you want to have a look yourself, here's everything you need to do to download the beta and activate Apple Intelligence.

Before you start, make sure you've backed up your Mac with Time Machine so you can restore the previous version if anything goes wrong. You can also use a secondary device if you have another Apple silicon Mac lying around because beta versions can go wrong and you have to download them at your own risk.

Read more
We just learned something surprising about how Apple Intelligence was trained
Apple Intelligence update on iPhone 15 Pro Max.

A new research paper from Apple reveals that the company relied on Google's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), rather than Nvidia's more widely deployed GPUs, in training two crucial systems within its upcoming Apple Intelligence service. The paper notes that Apple used 2,048 Google TPUv5p chips to train its AI models and 8,192 TPUv4 processors for its server AI models.

Nvidia's chips are highly sought for good reason, having earned their reputation for performance and compute efficiency. Their products and systems are typically sold as standalone offerings, enabling customers to construct and operate them as the best see fit.

Read more