How to Save a Webpage as a PDF: A Step-by-Step Guide

We’ve all been there before. You stumble upon an article or video that speaks to your soul…or at least makes you laugh hysterically. You want to save it forever to revisit the hilarity whenever you want. But how to save a webpage as a PDF so you can keep that content for yourself? Don’t worry,…

Written by

Gracie Jones

Published on

November 6, 2023
BlogTechnology, Web Design & Development
A woman is using a laptop to save a webpage as a PDF.

We’ve all been there before. You stumble upon an article or video that speaks to your soul…or at least makes you laugh hysterically. You want to save it forever to revisit the hilarity whenever you want.

But how to save a webpage as a PDF so you can keep that content for yourself? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.

A Step-By-Step Guide On How To Save Your Website As A Pdf.

Why Save a Webpage as a PDF?

Before we dive in, let’s chat about why you’d want to save a webpage as a PDF in the first place. Here are some of the top reasons:

  • You want to save a copy for offline viewing. If you’re going on a trip somewhere without WiFi, saving webpages as PDFs ensures you’ll have access to the content.
  • You want to print or share the content. PDFs make printing and sharing webpages easy peasy.
  • You want to annotate or edit the content. With a PDF, you can easily add comments or edit as needed.
  • You want a clean, ad-free version of the page. PDFs eliminate all those annoying ads, so you can just focus on the content.
  • You want to archive webpages. The internet isn’t forever – save important pages as PDFs so you always have a copy.

So, in summary – PDFs are universal, editable, printable, and ad-free. That makes saving web pages in this format incredibly useful.

Now, let’s get to the good stuff – how the heck do you actually save a webpage as a PDF? Don’t worry; I’ve outlined the steps for all the popular browsers below.

How to Save a Webpage as a PDF in Chrome

Google Chrome is the most widely used browser, so there’s a good chance you’ll want to use it to save webpages as PDFs. Here are the steps:

  • Open the webpage you want to save in Chrome.
  • Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner and select “Print”. Alternatively, you can use the Ctrl + P (or Command + P on Mac) keyboard shortcut to open the print menu.
  • In the destination section, click the “Change” button and select “Save as PDF” from the dropdown menu.
  • Click “Save” and select where you want the PDF to be saved on your computer.
  • Voila! The webpage is now a PDF. Go forth and print or annotate to your heart’s content.

It only takes about 20 seconds once you get the hang of it. Saving webpages as PDFs doesn’t get much easier than that.

Saving a Webpage as a PDF on Safari

For all my Apple lovers, here’s how to save a webpage as a PDF on Safari:

  • Open the desired webpage in Safari.
  • Click “File” in the menu bar and select “Export as PDF”. Alternatively, use the Command + P keyboard shortcut.
  • Choose a save location and file name, then hit the “Save” button.

Easy peasy mac and cheesy. Now you’ve got a nice, clean PDF version of the webpage to keep forever and ever.

Saving Webpages as PDFs on Firefox

If Firefox is your go-to, don’t worry – you can still save webpages as PDFs in just a few clicks:

  • Open the webpage you want to save in Firefox.
  • Click the three horizontal lines in the top right and choose “Print”. Or use Ctrl + P (Windows) or Command + P (Mac).
  • In the destination section, select “Save to PDF” from the dropdown menu.
  • Select a save location and file name, then hit “Save”.

Boom – that webpage is now a PDF. Feel free to share it, print it, or draw hilarious moustaches on all the photos. The world is your oyster!

Saving a Webpage as a PDF on Microsoft Edge

Last but not least, let’s talk about Microsoft Edge. Here are the steps for saving webpages as PDFs:

  • Open the desired webpage in Edge.
  • Click the three dots in the top right and select “Print”. Alternatively, use Ctrl + P.
  • Under “Printer”, choose “Microsoft Print to PDF” from the dropdown menu.
  • Click “Print”. Select a save location and file name.
  • Hit “Save”, and voila – you have a PDF!

How to download a link from PDF:

How to download PDF from link:

  • Click on the PDF download link if available. This is the simplest way – just click the link and the PDF should automatically download.
  • Use the browser’s built-in PDF viewer. Many browsers like Chrome have a PDF viewer where you can open the PDF and then click the download button in the top right.
  • Use a browser extension. Extensions like “PDF Download” for Chrome or “Download PDF Files” for Firefox add a one-click download button for PDFs.
  • Copy the direct PDF URL and paste it into the address bar. Check the page source code for the “.pdf” link, copy that exact  URL, and load it directly to download.

5 Pro Tips for Saving Webpages as PDFs

Now that you know how to save webpages as PDFs in all the major browsers, let’s chat about some pro tips:

 Use the Print Preview

Before saving your PDF, check the print preview. It allows you to see if any content might get cut off and make adjustments as needed.

Change the Orientation

Toggle between portrait and landscape orientation in the print settings to find the optimal fit. It prevents content from getting cut off.

Eliminate Ads

Use the reader view in Safari or Firefox to get rid of ads before saving a webpage as a PDF. It creates a clean, distraction-free version.

Adjust PDF Settings

Tweak settings like margins, page size, headers, and footers before saving your PDF to customize the end result.

Check for Updates

If the “Save as PDF” option isn’t showing up, check your browser is updated to the latest version for full compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What if “Save as PDF” isn’t an option in my browser?

Try updating your browser or use a PDF conversion site like Smallpdf if the built-in option isn’t available.

Can I edit a webpage after saving as a PDF?

Yes! PDFs allow you to annotate, highlight, add text, insert images, and more. You’ll need PDF editing software like Adobe Acrobat.

How do I save a webpage as a PDF on my phone?

On iPhone, open the page in Safari, tap the share button, then “Options” and select “PDF”. On Android, open Chrome, tap the menu button, then “Print” and select “Save as PDF”.

Let the PDF Party Begin

And there you have it, folks – everything you could ever want to know about saving webpages as PDFs! With this handy guide, you’ll be converting your favourite articles and videos in no time.

So go on – revisit that hilarious cat video or detailed tutorial whenever your heart desires. With the power of the PDF, that beloved content can live in your life forever.