Explore six free ways to convert a PowerPoint (PPTX or PPT) or Apple Keynote file to PDF on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
You may want to convert a PowerPoint presentation to PDF so it’s easier to print or share via email. Additionally, if your long presentation is mostly text-based, it may be more convenient to read it after converting it to a PDF. Whatever your reason, here are the six best ways to convert a PowerPoint presentation into a PDF doc.
1. Use Apple’s free Keynote app
If you own an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, Apple’s own Keynote app is the best way to turn an existing or new presentation into a PDF file. Keynote comes preinstalled on new macOS and iOS devices. However, if you deleted it to make space, you can download it again for free from the App Store: For Mac | For iPhone and iPad
On Mac
- Find the Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation or Keynote Presentation in Finder and open it in the Keynote app.
- In the top menu bar, click File > Export To and choose PDF.
- Go through the options here, enable them if needed, and hit Save.
- Finally, give your presentation a name, choose a location, and click Export.
Important: In addition to the above method, you can use the print option (File > Print) to customize the presentation before it’s saved as a PDF.
On iPhone and iPad
- Open the Keynote app and pick a presentation from the Files app interface.
- Tap the share button at the top and choose Export and Send > PDF.
- Choose the export options and hit Export.
- Now, you can share it via AirDrop, Messages, Mail, etc., or use the Save to Files option to store the PDF in the Files app (iCloud Drive, local storage, or other added third-party storage services like Google Drive).
2. Use LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a well-known free and open-source app you can use to change your PPT file into a PDF.
On Mac
- Launch LibreOffice on your computer, click Open File, select the PowerPoint or Keynote presentation file, and hit Open.
- Once the file is open inside LibreOffice, click File > Export As > Export as PDF.
- Set the range, compression, and other things, and click Export.
- Tweak the name and location if needed, and click Save.
On iPhone and iPad
While there is no official first-party LibreOffice app for iOS, you can use the Collabora Office app, which is developed by one of LibreOffice’s certified developers and ecosystem members.
- Open the Collabora Office app on iPhone or iPad and select your presentation file from the iOS Files app interface.
- On iPhone, tap the hamburger menu icon in the top right and choose Export as > PDF Document (.pdf) as… or PDF Document (.pdf). On iPad, you can tap File > Export as > PDF Document (.pdf) as… in the top left corner.
- Tweak the PDF export options, select a location such as On My iPhone/iPad or iCloud Drive, and tap Save.
Note: You can also use the File > Print option to save the PPT file as a PDF.
3. Use Microsoft PowerPoint
You need a paid Microsoft 365 subscription to edit, save, and export presentations. However, by using the print trick, you can turn your existing PPT into a PDF and save or share it via email, Messages, and more.
Here’s how to use the official PowerPoint app to convert a PPT into a PDF for free on iOS and macOS:
- Get the PowerPoint app for your Mac or iPhone and iPad. Go past the welcome screens and choose the free read-only mode. Then, open the PPT in the PowerPoint app by tapping the folder icon.
- iPad or iPad: Tap the three dots icon in the top right, and choose Print > AirPrint. Now, put two fingers over the thumbnail and expand it. Finally, tap the share button and choose Save to Files or one of the other options.
- Mac: Click File > Print in the top menu bar. Next, click the arrow next to the PDF drop-down menu to Save as PDF.
4. Use Google Slides
Google Slides is a potent alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint and Apple’s Keynote. You can open your existing presentation here and turn it into a PDF.
- Visit Google Slides in a web browser on your computer or iPad and click File > Open > Upload. Now, use the Browse button or drag & drop your presentation file here to open it in Google Slides.
- Click File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf).
Note: I was unable to open an existing presentation in the Google Slides app on iPhone and iPad from the iOS Files app. However, you can if it’s saved to Google Drive.
5. Use App Store apps
In addition to the above options, you can also use other third-party iOS and macOS apps to convert PPT into PDF.
On Mac
I couldn’t find a free app that can convert a PPT into a PDF. However, here are three free-to-download apps whose PPT to PDF tool is behind a paywall.
On iPhone and iPad
You can use Smallpdf to turn a PowerPoint presentation into a PDF for free on your iOS device. However, after a few conversions, the app needs you to subscribe to a paid plan.
- Download and open the Smallpdf app.
- Select PowerPoint to PDF in the Convert to PDF section.
- Tap the plus button, and import the PPT from the Files app.
- The app will automatically convert the PowerPoint file into a PDF and save it there. You can tap the three dots icon next to the PDF and use the share option to send or save it.
6. Use free online websites
Finally, you also have the option to convert a PPT to a PDF using online sites. However, keep in mind that uploading your sensitive presentation to a website’s server may raise privacy concerns, so tread carefully. That said, here are some websites you can try.
PPT text font changed after converting to PDF?
After converting a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation to PDF, you may notice that some fonts have changed. I understand it can alter the intended look of your document; however, this is normal.
If the app, website, or service you use to convert a PPT to PDF doesn’t have the original font from the presentation, it will replace it with a different available font. As a result, converting the same presentation to PDF using two different apps or sites may produce PDFs with slight visual differences.
Next, check out: How to export notes from the Notes app as PDF