How to Convert iOS Pages Documents to PDF

Short answer: Open the document in Pages on your iPhone or iPad, tap Share, choose Export and Send, select PDF, review Layout Options, tap Export, then choose where to save or send the PDF.

Convert a Pages document to PDF on iPhone or iPad

Open Pages and open the document you want to convert.
Tap the Share button in the toolbar.
Tap Export and Send.
Select PDF.
Review Layout Options. Turn on the options for comments or smart annotations if they should appear in the exported file.
Tap Export in the top-right corner.
Choose a destination from the share sheet, such as Files or iCloud Drive, AirDrop, Mail, Messages, Notes or another installed service.

Pages exports a separate PDF copy. Changes made to that PDF do not change the original Pages document, so keep the original file when you still need to edit the document.

What the PDF export includes

Comments and smart annotations

Comments and smart annotations are optional. Their controls appear in Layout Options after you choose PDF. Enable the relevant setting before tapping Export; otherwise those items may be omitted from the PDF.

Accessibility descriptions

Accessibility descriptions for images, drawings, audio or video are automatically exported to PDF. You do not need to copy them manually.

Password-protected Pages files

If the original Pages file is password-protected, the password also applies to the exported PDF and Word copies. Share the password through a safe channel if another person needs to open the PDF.

Fixed layout

PDF preserves a fixed page layout for sharing and printing. It is not the right format for continued editing in Pages. Keep the original Pages document as your editable master.

Where to save or send the PDF

The destination list comes from the apps and services installed on your iPhone or iPad. Common choices include:

Files or iCloud Drive: save a copy for later access or sharing.
AirDrop: send the PDF to a nearby Apple device.
Mail or Messages: attach the PDF to a message.
Notes: store the exported file with related notes.
Another installed service: use any storage or sharing app that appears in the share sheet.

If a destination is missing, install or enable the relevant app and try the share sheet again.

Check the exported PDF

Open the destination you selected, such as Files or Mail.
Open the PDF and check page breaks, images, tables and fonts.
If comments or smart annotations are missing, export again and enable them under Layout Options.
If the PDF is locked, use the Pages document password when prompted.
Send the PDF only after confirming that it contains the intended pages and annotations.

iPhone and iPad compared with Mac

The iPhone and iPad workflow is useful when the source document is already on the mobile device. The menu path is Share → Export and Send → PDF, followed by the share sheet.

On a Mac, Pages also exports documents to PDF through its export menu. Mac export is convenient when the file is already on the computer and can provide a larger workspace, while iOS and iPadOS let you complete the conversion without moving the document first. Both platforms support PDF export.

Troubleshooting

I cannot find “Export and Send”

Make sure the file is open in the Pages app and that you tapped the document’s Share button, not the system share control for a different app. The export command is inside Pages.

The PDF does not contain comments or smart annotations

Choose PDF again, open Layout Options, enable the corresponding comments or smart annotations setting, and export a new copy.

The PDF is password-protected

This is expected when the source Pages file is protected. Use the original document password to open the exported PDF.

I cannot see Files, AirDrop or another destination

Destinations depend on installed apps and enabled services. Check that the target app is installed and available in the share sheet, then retry the export.

The original document changed after export

Export creates a separate PDF. Editing the PDF does not modify the Pages file, and exporting does not replace the original. Reopen the Pages document to confirm you are working on the source file.

The layout looks different from the editor

PDF is a fixed-layout format. Review page breaks, large images, tables and fonts in the exported copy. If the result is not suitable, adjust the Pages document and export again.

Or skip the browser setup

If your goal is to capture a web page or PDF preview rather than convert a Pages file, ScreenshotNeo provides a website screenshot API. Its GET endpoint returns a PNG, JPEG, WebP or PDF. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for all options.

curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp

import requests; r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90); open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)

const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' }); const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);

Cookie banners, newsletter popups and chat widgets are removed before the shot.
Bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts and cache hits are not billed; response headers identify the page verdict and billing result.
An MCP server lets Claude, Cursor and other MCP clients use take_screenshot, get_page_info and capture_pdf.
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Create a free ScreenshotNeo account to try it.

FAQ

Does exporting to PDF delete or replace my Pages document?

No. Pages creates a separate PDF copy and leaves the original document intact.

Can I include comments in the PDF?

Yes. Select PDF, open Layout Options, enable comments, and then export.

Can I include smart annotations?

Yes. Turn on the smart annotations option in Layout Options before exporting.

Can I convert a password-protected Pages file?

Yes. The password carries over to the exported PDF and Word copies.

Where does Pages save the PDF?

You choose the destination after tapping Export. Available choices depend on the apps and services installed on the device.