How to Save an Email as a PDF on iOS Using AirPrint
Question details
The user wants to save an email from the iOS Mail app directly as a PDF document rather than printing a physical copy.
- Product
- iOS Mail
- Device & OS
- iOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to generate a PDF file from an email using the native iOS Print menu, as third-party PDF viewers do not provide this function directly from the Mail app.
- Observed behavior
- Third-party applications like Adobe Acrobat Reader have no control over the PDF generation process through Apple's native AirPrint feature, requiring users to rely on a native iOS workaround.
Ensure your iPhone or iPad is running a recent version of iOS, as the native 'Print to PDF' gesture requires modern iOS print preview capabilities.
Use the Native iOS Print-to-PDF Gesture
Utilize Apple's hidden built-in gesture within the Print preview screen to convert and save any email as a PDF document directly to your device.
Because AirPrint is a proprietary Apple technology, third-party PDF apps cannot intercept the print process to create PDFs directly. However, Apple provides a native gesture inside the AirPrint preview interface that instantly generates a PDF.
Launch the iOS Mail app and navigate to the specific email message you want to convert into a PDF.
Tap the Reply button (the curved arrow at the bottom of the screen) and scroll down the options list to select 'Print'.
On the Print Options screen, locate the thumbnail preview of the email at the bottom. Perform a 'pinch out' gesture (place two fingers on the thumbnail and spread them apart) to instantly convert the preview into a full-screen PDF.
Tap the Share icon located in the top-right corner of the newly generated PDF. From the share sheet, choose 'Save to Files' to store it locally or on iCloud, or select an app like WPS Office to open the PDF immediately.
Edit and Annotate Saved Email PDFs with WPS Office
Once you have saved your iOS email as a PDF using the AirPrint workaround, you can easily open, read, edit, and annotate the document using WPS Office for iOS.
- 1. Share to WPS Office: After using the pinch-to-zoom gesture in the iOS Print menu, tap the Share icon and select WPS Office from your list of apps.
- 2. Open and View: The generated email PDF will automatically open within the WPS Office app for easy reading.
- 3. Annotate and Save: Use the built-in PDF tools at the bottom of the screen to highlight important text, add signatures, or save the document securely to WPS Cloud.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I use my third-party PDF reader to save an email via AirPrint?
AirPrint is an exclusive Apple technology designed specifically for communicating with physical printers. Apple restricts third-party applications from intercepting or controlling the PDF generation process triggered within the AirPrint interface.
Where are PDFs saved on my iPhone when using the Files app?
When you tap 'Save to Files' from the share sheet, iOS allows you to choose the exact destination. You can save it to 'On My iPhone' for local storage, or to 'iCloud Drive' to sync the PDF across all your Apple devices.
Can I save email attachments as PDFs using this method?
Yes. If you tap to open an attachment directly within the Mail app, you can select the Share button, choose 'Print', and use the identical pinch-out gesture on the preview thumbnail to save the attachment as a PDF file.
