Saving an email as a PDF on an iPhone or iPad is a handy trick that allows you to keep a copy of your correspondence in a format that is easy to share and print. To do this, simply open the email you want to save, tap the share button (the square with an arrow pointing up), and then select “Print” from the share options. From the Printer Options screen, use a two-finger pinch-out gesture on the email preview to open it in full-screen mode. Then, tap the share button again and select “Save to Files” to save the email as a PDF to your device.
After completing these steps, you will have a PDF copy of your email saved on your iPhone or iPad. This can be helpful for archiving important messages, sharing them with others, or printing them out for reference.
Introduction
In our digitally-connected world, emails are a primary mode of communication, whether for personal or professional purposes. Have you ever received an email containing vital information that you needed to save for later reference? Or maybe you needed to share a copy of an email with someone who didn’t have access to your email account? In such cases, saving the email as a PDF on your iPhone or iPad can be incredibly useful.
But why save an email as a PDF? PDFs are a universally accepted file format, meaning they can be opened on almost any device without any compatibility issues. They are also secure, as they cannot be easily edited or tampered with once created. Moreover, saving emails as PDFs helps in decluttering your inbox without losing important information. This is particularly relevant for iPhone and iPad users who are often on the move and need to access important emails offline or share them quickly.
This article will guide you through the steps to save an email as a PDF on your iPhone or iPad. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who likes to keep things organized, this simple guide will help you transform your emails into PDFs with ease.
Step by Step Tutorial: Saving an Email as a PDF on iPhone or iPad
Before diving into the steps, it’s important to understand what we are looking to achieve. Saving an email as a PDF on your iPhone or iPad means you will have a digital copy of your email that can be accessed offline, shared easily, or printed. Now, let’s get into the steps.
Step 1: Open the Email You Want to Save
Open the email in your Mail app that you wish to save as a PDF.
Opening the email is straightforward – just tap on it in your inbox. Once open, you can view all its contents, including attachments.
Step 2: Tap the Share Button
Look for the share button, typically represented by a square with an upward-pointing arrow, and tap on it.
The share button is a versatile tool on your iPhone or iPad, allowing you to perform various actions with the content on your screen, including printing and saving.
Step 3: Select “Print” from the Share Options
In the share sheet that pops up, scroll until you find the “Print” option and select it.
Selecting “Print” might seem counterintuitive when you want to save something digitally, but it’s a necessary step in the process of saving an email as a PDF on an iOS device.
Step 4: Use a Two-Finger Pinch-Out Gesture on the Email Preview
On the Printer Options screen, use two fingers to zoom in on the email preview. This will open the preview in full-screen mode.
This gesture is similar to how you would zoom in on a photo. By doing this, you’re actually generating a PDF preview of the email.
Step 5: Tap the Share Button Again
Once the email is displayed in full-screen, tap the share button once more.
You’ll notice that the options in the share sheet may look slightly different now that you’re working with a PDF preview rather than the original email.
Step 6: Select “Save to Files” to Save the Email as a PDF
Finally, choose “Save to Files” from the share options and select the location where you want to save the PDF on your device.
The “Files” app on your iPhone or iPad works as a file management system, allowing you to organize all your documents, including PDFs, in one place.
Pros
Benefit | Explanation |
---|---|
Accessibility | Saving an email as a PDF on your iPhone or iPad makes it easily accessible, even when you’re offline. You can open the PDF anytime without needing an internet connection or access to your email account. |
Shareability | PDFs are easy to share. Once you’ve saved your email as a PDF, you can share it with anyone, regardless of whether they use the same email service as you. This is particularly useful for collaborative work or when you need to provide information quickly. |
Security | PDFs are a secure way to store information. Unlike emails that can be hacked or intercepted, a PDF saved on your iPhone or iPad is stored locally and can be further secured with encryption or a password. |
Cons
Drawback | Explanation |
---|---|
Storage Space | Saving many emails as PDFs can take up a significant amount of storage space on your device. This may not be ideal for iPhone or iPad users with limited storage capacity. |
Limited Editing | Once an email is saved as a PDF, it becomes more challenging to edit its contents. If you need to make changes or update information, you’ll need to use a PDF editor, which may not be as straightforward as editing an email. |
Dependency on iOS Features | The process of saving an email as a PDF relies on iOS features such as the share button and the “Print” option. If these features are altered in future updates, the process may change, requiring users to relearn the steps. |
Additional Information
Now that you know how to save an email as a PDF on your iPhone or iPad, let’s talk a bit more about the practicality of this action. One of the great things about saving emails as PDFs is the preservation of their original format. This means that all the images, links, and text will appear in the PDF just as they do in the email, making for a seamless transition from one format to another.
Furthermore, saving emails as PDFs can be part of a larger strategy to go paperless. Instead of printing important emails for records, you can save them as PDFs and store them digitally, reducing paper waste and contributing to a more sustainable environment.
Another tip to consider is organizing your saved PDFs into folders within the Files app on your iPhone or iPad. This way, you can keep all related emails together, making it easier to find what you’re looking for when you need it. You can even rename the PDFs to make their contents more identifiable at a glance.
Remember to back up your saved PDFs regularly. Whether you choose to use iCloud, an external drive, or another cloud service, having a backup ensures that you won’t lose your important emails if something happens to your device.
Summary
- Open the email you want to save.
- Tap the share button.
- Select “Print” from the share options.
- Use a two-finger pinch-out gesture on the email preview.
- Tap the share button again.
- Select “Save to Files” to save the email as a PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I save multiple emails as one PDF?
Unfortunately, you can’t directly save multiple emails as a single PDF using the built-in Mail app on iPhone or iPad. You would need to save each email as a separate PDF and then use a third-party app to merge them into one file.
Can I save an email as a PDF if I’m using a third-party email app?
The process may vary slightly, but most third-party email apps for iPhone or iPad should have a similar feature that allows you to save an email as a PDF. Look for a share or export option within the app.
What if I don’t have the “Save to Files” option?
Make sure your iOS is up to date, as the “Save to Files” feature was introduced in a later version of iOS. If you’re running an older version, consider updating or saving the PDF to a cloud service like iCloud Drive or Dropbox.
Can I password-protect the PDFs I save?
Yes, you can use third-party PDF editing apps to add password protection to your PDFs. This adds an extra layer of security to your saved emails.
Where do the PDFs save on my iPhone or iPad?
The PDFs save in the location you choose in the Files app. You can save them to your device’s internal storage or to iCloud Drive if you want to access them across multiple devices.
Conclusion
In our tech-savvy world, knowing how to save an email as a PDF on your iPhone or iPad is an incredibly useful skill. It not only aids in better organization of your digital correspondence but also ensures that you have a readily accessible and shareable copy of important communications.
The steps are simple, and the benefits, such as accessibility and security, can significantly enhance your productivity and peace of mind. So next time you receive an email that’s too important to lose, remember this guide and save it as a PDF.