How to print to PDF on Windows 11, 10

Yes, you can print to PDF from any app and web browser, and in this guide, you will learn how on Windows 11.

Windows 11 Print
Windows 11 Print
  • To print to PDF on Windows 11, open the document, choose the “Print” option (or use the “Ctrl + P” keyboard shortcut), select “Microsoft Print to PDF,” click “Print,” and select the destination to store the printed PDF document.
  • If the option is missing, open Settings > Apps > Optional features, click “More Windows features,” check “Microsoft Print to PDF,” and click “OK.”

On Windows 11 (and 10), you can print a document to PDF from virtually any application, and in this guide, you will learn the steps to complete this task. The ability to print the contents of an application to a PDF document is a convenient way of creating digital copies when the printer isn’t available or you want to save paper and ink.

In addition, there are several other benefits. For example, PDF files are more practical than paper since they can be opened and viewed on any device with a PDF reader, making them easy to share and access. You can password-protect and encrypt PDFs, making them a secure way to share sensitive information. And they preserve the formatting and layout of the original document, ensuring that it looks the same no matter who opens it.

The option is standard on most apps (such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.), and it’s available from the “Print” interface.

This guide will teach you the steps to print to PDF from your web browser or any other application on Windows 11 (and 10).

Print to PDF on Windows 11

To print to PDF on Windows 11 (or 10) from any app, including Chrome, Edge, Notepad, and Word, use these steps:

  1. Open any app on Windows 11.

  2. Click the menu button and select the Print option.

    Windows 11 Print option

    Quick tip: You can also use the “Ctrl + P” keyboard shortcut on virtually any application to bring a print interface. The application may also have a dedicated “Print” button in the toolbar.
  3. Choose the “Microsoft Print to PDF” or “Save as PDF” option (depending on the app) on the setting to choose a printer destination.

    Microsoft Print to PDF

    Quick note: If the option isn’t available, use the instructions below to enable the feature on your computer.
  4. Click the Print button.

  5. Select the folder destination to save the PDF file.

  6. Confirm a name for the file.

  7. Click the Save button.

Once you complete the steps, the content of the application will be printed to a PDF file.

Enable Microsoft Print to PDF

The ability to print content into a PDF file is possible using the “Microsoft Print to PDF” feature. The feature should already be enabled by default, but if it’s not, you will need to enable it manually.

To enable the Microsoft to PDF feature on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on Apps.

  3. Click the Optional features tab.

  4. Under the “Related settings” section, click the “More Windows features” option.

    More Windows Features

  5. Check the “Microsoft Print to PDF” option.

    Microsoft Print to PDF

  6. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the feature will enable, and you should now be able to print to PDF on Windows 11.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.