How to save a webpage as a PDF
Short answer
Press Ctrl+P and choose "Save as PDF" to convert a webpage to a document with searchable text. Use a full page capture exported to PDF instead when the document has to match what you actually saw, because printing re-renders the page through its print stylesheet and often changes it substantially.
Updated 13 August 2026Written by the Full Page Screenshot team
Method 1: Chrome's print dialog
Built in, free, and produces selectable text.
- 1
Press Ctrl+P
Command+P on macOS. The print preview opens.
- 2
Set the destination to "Save as PDF"
It is the first entry in the destination dropdown.
- 3
Open "More settings" and enable background graphics
This is the step most people miss. Without it, backgrounds and coloured blocks are dropped and the document looks nothing like the page.
- 4
Check the preview, then save
Scroll the whole preview. If sections are missing or the layout has collapsed, the site has an aggressive print stylesheet and method 2 will serve you better.
Method 2: capture, then export
When the document has to look like the page did.
- 1
Capture the full page
Click the extension icon and wait for the scroll to complete.
- 2
Choose PDF and a paper size
A4 or Letter for something a person will read. Fit to image for one continuous page.
- 3
Save
The PDF is assembled in your browser and downloaded. Nothing is uploaded.
Which method to use
| You need | Use |
|---|---|
| Searchable, selectable text | Ctrl+P → Save as PDF |
| A record of how the page looked | Capture → PDF |
| A dark-themed page preserved | Capture → PDF |
| The smallest possible file | Ctrl+P → Save as PDF |
| A dashboard or interactive view | Capture → PDF |
| Something a screen reader can read | Ctrl+P → Save as PDF |
Frequently asked questions
Why does my printed PDF look different from the webpage?
Chrome applies the site's print stylesheet, which commonly removes navigation, backgrounds and columns. Enabling "Background graphics" in More settings recovers some of it, but not all.
How do I save a webpage as PDF with images?
In the print dialog, open More settings and switch on "Background graphics". Images inside the content flow are included either way; background images are not without that setting.
Can I save a webpage as PDF on mobile?
Yes. In Chrome for Android use Share → Print → Save as PDF. In Safari on iOS use Share → Options → PDF.
Which method keeps the text searchable?
Only the print dialog. A capture-based PDF contains an image, so its text cannot be selected, searched or read aloud.
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