How to Save a Screenshot as PDF in Windows 10

Taking a screenshot on a Windows 10 computer is pretty easy. There are a couple of smart ways to grab screenshots. The image format of a screenshot can also be easily changed (e.g., from PNG to JPG, and vice versa). Converting a screenshot to PDF can be a bit tricky — particularly when you don’t know your way around it. Some do not even know that it can be done.

You might want to use online tools and websites to make the conversion, but that requires the use of the internet and could also be time-consuming.

This guide will highlight several ways through which you can convert a screenshot from an image file format to a PDF right on your Windows 10 PC. The best part is that you do not have to go online or install a third-party software; converting an image file to PDF is a built-in feature of the Windows 10 OS.

Here’s how to go about it.

How to Save a Screenshot as PDF Using the Photos App

Let’s start with the native Photos app on your Windows computer. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Right-click on the screenshot you want to convert to PDF, click Open with option, and select Photos.

Step 2: Tap the See more icon at the top-right corner of the Paint app and select Print.

Step 3: Under the Printer option, click the drop-down button and select Microsoft Print to PDF.

That is the default PDF printer which was introduced as a feature on the Windows 10 OS. With that, you can convert screenshots and all types of images to PDF file format.

Step 4: Click Print to convert the screenshot to PDF. You can also select how you want the screenshot to appear in the PDF by choosing either Landscape or Portrait. That’s entirely up to you.

Windows will save the screenshot as a new PDF file in the Documents folder of your PC. A pop-up notification will also appear at the bottom-right corner of your PC.

How to Save a Screenshot as PDF Using the Paint App

You can also use the Paint app to save and convert your screenshot to PDF. Let’s walk you through the steps.

Step 1: Right-click on the screenshot you want to convert to PDF and open with the Paint app.

Step 2: When the screenshot has been opened in the Paint app, tap the File option at the top-left corner of the app.

Step 3: Next, tap the Print option to open the Microsoft PDF printer.

Tip: Use Ctrl + P shortcut to print a picture in Paint quickly. You should check out the complete list of Microsoft Paint keyboard shortcuts

Step 4: Select Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer option and tap Print.

Step 5: On the new window, you can give the PDF file a new name and select the location you want it saved on your PC. Click Save to complete the process.

Pro Tip:

How to Save a Screenshot as PDF Using the Internet Explorer

Yes, you could also use your browser to save a screenshot as PDF. And no, you don’t necessarily need to have access to the internet. The method is bit similar to the ones above. Here’s how to get it done.

Step 1: Right click the screenshot you want to save as PDF and Open with Internet Explorer.

Step 2: Wait for the image to load up in a new tab in Internet Explorer. When it does, hit the Ctrl + P keyboard shortcut to launch the Print window.

Step 3: Ensure the Microsoft Print to PDF option is selected as your printer then click Print. That will take you to a new window where you can choose storage location and give the PDF file a new name.

This method also works for other browsers like Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, UC Browser, Opera, etc. Simply open the screenshot with the browser, hit Ctrl + P shortcut to print, and select Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer.

PDFs Can Save the Day

And that’s how you can quickly save screenshots (and other images) on your Windows 10 computer as PDF. You have the option of using either the Paint app or the Photos app. Both are Windows 10 built-in apps and they both support the Microsoft’s default PDF printer.

Using the Paint app is recommended, though. This is because, unlike the Photos app, Paint allow you choose where you’d love to save the converted PDF file on your PC. Photos just automatically saves it in the Documents folder of your computer.

If you have any follow-up questions, feel free to drop it in the comments section below.

Next up: Do you know you can automatically take screenshots at regular interval while you work on your PC and automatically save them in a folder? Check out two different ways to do it on your Windows PC.