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PDF Maker–Make PDF Online in One Click

by Christoph Forsting

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Free PDF Maker. Upload Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or image files and instantly create high-quality PDFs—no signup, no watermark, no installation.

To make a PDF online, simply upload your Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or image file to Smallpdf's free PDF Converter and download your new PDF in seconds—no signup, watermark, or installation required. Our browser-based tool supports drag-and-drop uploads and cloud import from Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.

Quick Guide to Make PDF Online in One Click

  1. Upload your Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or image file to the Smallpdf PDF Converter.
  2. Click "Finish."
  3. Download your new PDF.

Our online PDF generator works instantly in your browser—just upload, convert, and download. Want more? With a Pro account, you can batch convert files, import directly from Google Drive or Dropbox, and even make PDFs searchable with OCR. It's all built to help you do more in fewer clicks.

How to Make a PDF Online Step-by-Step

Whether you're working on desktop or mobile, you can easily create a PDF from a file in seconds - no downloads needed.

  • Drag and drop your file into the PDF Maker—or upload from your device, Google Drive, or Dropbox.
  • We'll convert it to a high-quality PDF in just a few seconds.
  • If you're uploading an image or scanned file, keep an eye out for the Smart tip! on the download screen. We'll suggest tools like PDF OCR to make your file searchable or Compress PDF to shrink the size.
  • Download your new PDF, ready to save, share, or keep editing.
  • Want to do more? You can keep working with tools like Edit PDF, Merge PDF, or Sign PDF before saving.

Convert Office Files and Images to PDF—and Back Again

Need to turn your Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files into polished PDFs? Just upload and convert. They'll be ready to save, share, or edit in seconds with layout preservation and embedded fonts intact.

Supported File Types for PDF Creation

The PDF Converter supports a wide range of formats, including Microsoft Office documents and common image files. You can upload:

  • DOC / DOCX (Word)
  • XLS / XLSX (Excel)
  • PPT / PPTX (PowerPoint)
  • ODT, ODS, ODP (OpenDocument formats)
  • JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, HEIC, WEBP (image files)

Pro tip: If you're working with a password-protected Office file, remove the password in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint before uploading. For PDFs, try our Unlock PDF tool to remove protection before converting.

Make Searchable PDFs with OCR

Working with images or scanned documents? Use PDF OCR to create searchable PDFs with selectable text from formats like JPG, PNG, or TIFF. It's ideal for digitizing paper notes, scanning receipts, or turning printed material into editable files.

OCR isn't a magic bullet. Text embedded in images, unusual fonts, or poor scan quality can sometimes lead to minor errors. But in most cases, it's accurate enough to let you copy, search, or highlight text without retyping.

Want to reverse the process? You can convert PDFs back into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or extract images for reuse using our PDF to Office and PDF to JPG tools for round-trip conversion.

Do More After You Create Your PDF

There is so much more you can do with Smallpdf. With over 30 tools, you can simplify your document work and get things done faster.

Popular Follow-up Tools

  • Edit PDF – Add text, images, and annotations directly in your browser
  • Sign PDF - Add a legally binding digital signature to your document in just a few clicks
  • Merge PDF - Combine multiple PDFs into one document
  • Compress PDF - Reduce file size for easier sharing
  • Split PDF - Split a PDF into individual pages or extract only the pages you need

AI PDF Tools—Translate, Summarize, and Chat with PDF

Take your PDFs further with AI-powered features:

Batch Convert Multiple Files to PDF

If you have multiple documents in different file formats, you can still use the PDF Converter to turn them into PDFs. You just have to upload and convert one at a time.

Need to move faster? With a Pro account, you can batch-upload as many files as you like—Word, Excel, images, and more—and we'll convert them all in one go. You'll get a neatly packaged ZIP file with all your PDFs ready to download. All uploads and downloads are protected with TLS encryption to keep your documents secure

Pro tip: To save time, organize your files into folders before uploading. It makes batch conversion smoother and keeps your workflow tidy.

Make PDFs Online vs Offline—Web, Desktop App, Mobile

Yes—Smallpdf gives you the flexibility to convert files wherever you are. Our PDF creation tool is fully browser-based, so you don't need to install anything. It works across:

  • Windows, macOS, and Linux desktops
  • All major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
  • Mobile devices running iOS or Android

You can upload files from your device or use cloud import from Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive for faster access and storage. Once the conversion is done, you can also save the new PDF back to any of these cloud services—no extra uploads needed.

Windows Desktop App for Offline Conversion

Working offline? The Smallpdf Desktop App for Windows is designed for just that. It lets you convert files to and from PDF without opening a browser or connecting to the internet. It's especially useful for large documents, sensitive files, or low-connectivity environments.

Scan to PDF on iOS and Android

If you're on mobile, the Smallpdf Mobile App puts your favorite tools in your pocket. You can:

  • Scan paper documents directly to PDF with our mobile scanning feature
  • Convert files between formats
  • Compress large PDFs for sharing
  • Sign documents on the go

Just note: while the mobile and web apps are super convenient, they still require an internet connection to process files. For full offline conversion, stick with the desktop app.

No matter where you work, Smallpdf makes sure your tools are right there with you—easy, reliable, and ready when you need them.

Security and Privacy When You Make PDFs Online

Your document security matters to us. When you make PDFs online with Smallpdf, your files are protected with:

  • TLS encryption for all uploads and downloads
  • Automatic file deletion after one hour
  • No watermarks, even on the free version
  • Password protection options for sensitive documents
  • HTTPS connections for secure data transmission

We follow strict data retention policies and never store your files longer than necessary for processing.

Start Your Free Trial to Access All Smallpdf Tools

Ready to do more with your PDFs? Try Pro free for batch conversions, unlimited file sizes, and access to all our premium features. No commitment required—cancel anytime.

FAQs About Making PDFs Online

Is Smallpdf Free to Make PDFs Online?

Yes, you can make PDFs online free with Smallpdf—no signup required for basic conversions.

Will My PDF Have a Watermark?

No, Smallpdf doesn't add watermarks to your PDFs, even on the free version.

Is There a File Size Limit?

Free users can convert files up to 100MB; Pro users enjoy unlimited file sizes.

Are My Files Secure and How Long Are They Stored?

Your files are encrypted with TLS and automatically deleted after one hour for maximum security.

How Do I Keep Hyperlinks Clickable in My PDF?

Yes, hyperlinks remain clickable when you convert documents to PDF with Smallpdf—no extra steps needed.

Do you have questions, concerns, or feedback on how to improve our file creator? We're only an email away.

Happy creating, saving, editing, and converting documents, whatever it may be!

Christoph Forsting
Christoph Forsting
Business