How To Convert Files to PDF Format Online

Over 2.5 billion PDF files have been floating around since PDF was invented in the early 1990s. Subsequently, it’s become standard to save files in PDF format, especially for sharing.

If you’re here, you’re probably wondering how to save a file as a PDF online. You wouldn’t believe how easy it actually is. Just drop a file into our PDF converter, and we’ll automatically save it as a PDF for you. Join the club of millions of monthly users and get started below.

Can I Convert PDF To Other Formats as Well?

We wouldn’t be the most popular online converter if we couldn’t reverse the process. As a matter of fact, you can use the same tool to do just this. Just go to the tool, drop in your PDF, choose the output format, and voilà—you’re good to go. There are also various standalone tools available via our website that specialize in converting different formats.

Currently, the PDF Converter tool accepts most files from Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel), as well as an array of image files, such as JPG, BMP, TIFF, and GIF.

When you want to convert a PDF to JPG, head over to the PDF to JPG tool. There, we offer the possibility to extract individual images from the PDF’s pages or turn whole PDF pages into JPG images. For Word to PDF and PDF to Word, we offer Optical Character Technology (OCR) for you to process scanned files.

If you wish to save an Office file back to its original format, you can head back to the PDF converter, drop the PDF in, and pick the appropriate output format.

Why Save Files as PDF

As previously mentioned, the PDF format has been loved and embraced by many—individuals and businesses—since its initial release back in the 1990s. Once a file is saved as a PDF, it can be viewed on almost any device across all operating systems, all while retaining its format in a compact size. Other formats, on the other hand, may appear completely different when opened on another PC.

Additionally, files saved as PDFs are extremely secure and can’t be altered without leaving an electronic footprint. Electronic signatures on PDFs can also be validated easily, and PDFs can be protected and secured with a password. To set a super-secure, encrypted password, head over to our Protect PDF tool.

Save a File as PDF on the Go

If you work on your mobile frequently, check out the free Smallpdf Mobile App. With it, you can view, modify, e-sign, and of course, convert files to PDF format—right there on your smartphone. If you’re a Pro user, we’ll also sync documents saved as PDFs to our online storage system for a centralized document management space. Thus, even when you switch from your mobile phone to a PC or a tablet, the files will always be available whenever you need them.

Easy Sharing Over the Web

Sharing a converted file on Smallpdf is very easy. Once you’ve converted a file, you’ll find the share function on the result page. When you click on it, you’ll have two options: generate a link for others to download your file or send it directly to a recipient’s email.

Another way to share is by storing the document on a cloud storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive. You’ll find the option to save directly to both these services under the “Download PDF” menu on the result page.

Smallpdf has even created a Dropbox extension, which lets you send files from Dropbox directly to a tool on our site. Of course, when you’re done, you can save the file back to Dropbox without downloading it to your device first. If you don’t use Dropbox or Google Drive, don’t forget to download your file to your local device. Have fun converting!