Print to PDF from a Linux device with these simple steps.
Learn how to convert Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or image files to PDFs online from your Linux device.
Print to PDF with Linux printer.
One of the easiest ways to convert your files is to use the Linux PDF printer. There are many reasons you might want to use Linux print to PDF. Converting your files to PDF can increase their readability across devices by preserving the formatting. A PDF is one of the most shareable formats. Once your file is in the PDF format, you’ll have access to the many functionalities of PDF, including password-protection and options to turn your PDF into a form.
To convert any file to PDF, open the file and follow these steps:
- Press Ctrl+P to open the print dialog box.
- Click the General tab, and under Printer, choose Print to File.
- Choose your filename and save location.
- Select your file format. PDF is the default file type.
- Select any page preferences.
- Click Print to save the PDF.
Instead of sending the document to a physical printer, the Linux PDF printer will “print” your file as a PDF and save it to the location of your choice. Just be sure to select a location and a filename that you’ll remember. Now, you’ll be able to enjoy all of the conveniences of having your file in the PDF format.
Linux print to PDF command line.
Another simple solution for converting to PDF in Linux is to print to PDF using the command line. The command line allows you to manipulate files on your computer using a text-based interface.
To use the command line, you can launch a Terminal window in Linux at any time by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T.
The command to print on Linux is lp. Follow lp with the name of your file (including its format) to print that file. To specify the printer, include -d and then the name of your printer as defined on your system between lp and your filename. In order to print your file to a PDF, you’ll want to use the Print to File printer.
Your entry in the command line will look something like this:
lp -d YOUR_PRINTER_NAME example.png
Once your file has been “printed” and converted to a PDF file, you can save, edit, and share it in its new format.
Use an online PDF editor.
Another easy way to convert files to PDF from your Linux device is with an online PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat online services. In four easy steps, you can convert almost any file type into device-friendly PDFs:
- Use any web browser to navigate to the Acrobat online services Convert to PDF tool.
- Upload the documents you want to convert.
- Download the newly created PDF to your device.
Adobe’s online PDF editor makes it easy to convert Microsoft 365 files — including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, or even images in JPG, PNG, and TIFF formats — into easy-to-read PDFs without software downloads or complicated navigation.
Using the online editor doesn’t require downloading any software. You only need an internet connection. The free online editor is great for users who don’t work with large quantities of PDFs every day, but it is also accessible for Acrobat Pro clients to connect with teammates and edit PDFs together in real time.
Discover more about how Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat online services make it easy to edit files to PDFs online from your Linux device.
