How to Convert HTML to PDF on Mac – Step-by-Step Guide
There may be those moments when you want to download a webpage or any HTML file to use it later offline or to share it with somebody or just for storing it in your personal archive. You can achieve this quite easily by converting HTML to PDF on Mac. The process is quite simple and does not require complicated tools for conversion. In this guide, I’ll explain step by step methods to save HTML files as PDF in detail.
Table of Contents:
Firstly, we will look at the reasons behind this conversion. And then we will move to the methods required to accomplish this task.
Why Convert HTML to PDF Files?
There are many scenarios where saving files as PDF is a good idea with many benefits. Don’t think of it as a simple convenience. It depends entirely on your specific needs. Here are some common reasons to convert HTML files to PDF format on a Mac:
- Easier Sharing & Printing: PDF format is known to preserve formatting across all platforms and devices. This feature makes it a universal standard to share data and documents. Other than sharing, PDF can also be used to print clean content without any inconsistencies that you will find when printing HTML pages.
- Archive Your Data: When you want to save an HTML file or a Web page for future reference, you’ll find that the best choice is PDFs. They do not easily undergo formatting changes, and their organization is easier as compared to that of an HTML file.
- Annotations and Markups: You can make annotations using tools such as Preview or Adobe Acrobat after converting HTML file to PDF. It is particularly relevant when writing projects or coursework with other people.
- Enhanced Security: A PDF has built-in security options to secure your content. It cannot be easily modified like an HTML file.
A Professional Method (for Batch Conversion)
It becomes cumbersome to open and convert many HTML files at once, and this can be even more tiresome if you are working with a large number of files. That is when a professional Document to PDF Converter comes in handy. This tool is developed to help the users to easily convert multiple HTML files into PDFs with ease.
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(Both Win & Mac)
Regardless of whether you are using a Mac or Windows, this software has an easy-to-use interface to complete the task within a few clicks. It is ideal for business people, students, or anyone who requires a good solution for large-scale HTML to PDF conversion.
Key Features of the Professional Software:
- The tool helps you to convert several HTML files into PDF at once, thus, it is more efficient compared to doing it one at a time.
- It also maintains all the formatting, images, and hyperlinks to provide you with PDFs that are as good as the original HTML content.
- It provides choices on page formatting, orientation and margins that allows you to decide on the appearance of your PDFs upon completion.
- This software also provides the option to password protect the file. You can restrict access to your PDF to safeguard its content.
- You can also use this software for other conversion scenarios like converting EPUB to PDF on mac.
Step-by-Step Process to Convert HTML to PDF on Mac
- Download, install and launch the software on your Mac system.
- Now, choose the option to Add files or folders in its main interface.
- You can preview the files on the next screen to ensure everything is in place.
- After that, customize output settings for your PDF files, such as page orientation, margins, etc.
- You can also apply password protection (if required) to enhance its security.
- Finally, click the Export button to process the HTML files into corresponding PDFs.
- After the process is completed, you can access the PDF documents in the output folder.
Using Safari or Any Other Browser on Mac (Built-in Method)
An HTML file can be easily opened in any web browser. So, you can open the HTML file on Safari browser and use the built-in option to convert HTML to PDF on Mac. Here are the steps to do this via Safari Browser:
- Open Safari (or any preferred browser). Then, drag and drop the HTML file into the browser to open it.
- At the top left of your screen, click on the File menu. From the dropdown menu, select Print. You can also press Command + P.
- At the bottom left of the print dialog box, click on the small PDF button. Select Save as PDF.
- Enter a file name, choose the destination folder and hit Save.
Congratulations! Safari has created a PDF file of your HTML content.
Using Terminal (For Tech-savvy)
This method is for tech-savvy users who are comfortable with command language. You can use command tools like wkhtmltopdf to convert HTML to PDF on Mac using terminal. Of course you will need Here are the steps to do so:
Step 1: Install wkhtmltopdf
Firstly, install Homebrew package on your Mac. Then, open the terminal to run the following command to install the tool:
brew install wkhtmltopdf
Step 2: Run the conversion:
Now, navigate to the directory that contains the HTML file:
cd /path/to/your/file
Step 3: Convert HTML to PDF on Mac:
wkhtmltopdf yourfile.html output.pdf
Step 4: Check the output PDF:
Open the PDF file to ensure everything is as expected.
FAQs for Mac HTML to PDF Conversion
Now, let’s take a look at some common queries related to this topic.
Q: Can I convert HTML to PDF on my iPad?
Yes, there are several ways to do this in Mac. For those who can use a third-party software, find simple tools from the store like “Make PDF” shortcut or use online converter. For those who want to convert an HTML file to PDF on Mac IPAD with no additional software other than Apple iBooks, this is how it works:
- Open the HTML file on your iPad via “Files.”
- Navigate to the top right box that has an arrow poking out (Share or Export, whatever it is).
- After clicking, choose the “Open in iBooks” option. This will automatically convert the file into PDF.
If you cannot find a specific step on your iPad, remember that the end goal is to open this file in Apple iBooks. As long as you can find the option to do so, the method will work.
Q: Can I use the Preview app to convert HTML to PDF?
The Preview app on Mac is a great tool to work with PDFs and images, but you can’t convert HTML files to PDF directly using it. However, you can use one of the methods mentioned earlier in this blog to generate PDF files then use Preview to do any further editing or viewing of the resulting PDF.
Q: Can I use the same methods to convert HTML to PDF on Windows or Linux?
Since some macOS-specific tools such as Safari and Preview aren’t available, the way of converting HTML to PDF on Windows or Linux is different. But on these platforms, you can do the same using their native tools or third-party software. Here’s a breakdown:
- On Windows: Microsoft Edge (like Safari on Mac), Adobe Acrobat, Wkhtmltopdf, or professional converter (as mentioned above).
- On Linux: Firefox/Chrome, Command Line Tools, LibreOffice.
Q: Can I use online HTML to PDF Converter on my Mac?
Yes, it is indeed possible to use online converter to convert HTML to PDF on your Mac.
Yes, you can absolutely use online HTML to PDF converters on your Mac. These tools are browser based and work on any platform including macOS, as long as you have internet. It’s quick and convenient if you’re working with a single HTML file.
Concluding Lines
The process of converting HTML to PDF might seem daunting at first, but once you know how to do it, it’s really quite simple. By using one of the methods mentioned in this article, you can produce polished, easily shared PDFs with no hassle. Choose whichever approach you want as per your convenience.
After all, PDF is an excellent format for sharing content (including photos and other image files), preserving formatting, or it can be used to archive information securely (for long term preservation). And this blog teaches you how to convert HTML to PDF on Mac like a pro!