Capturing Screenshots and Full Page PDFs in iOS Safari

This article explains how iOS users can capture and share both standard viewport screenshots and full-page scrolling PDFs in the Safari web browser. By utilizing the built-in iOS screenshot editor alongside the Safari Share Sheet and its native format options, you can easily save either your current screen view as a standard image or an entire webpage as a continuous PDF document.

Using the Screenshot Tool and Share Sheet

The primary way to choose between a standard viewport capture and a full-page PDF in Safari is by combining the native iOS screenshot function with the Share Sheet.

  1. Navigate to the Webpage: Open Safari and go to the webpage you want to capture.
  2. Take a Screenshot: Press the Side button and the Volume Up button simultaneously (or the Side/Top button and Home button on devices with a Home button) and quickly release them.
  3. Open the Preview: Tap the screenshot thumbnail that temporarily appears in the bottom-left corner of the screen before it disappears.
  4. Select the Capture Mode: At the top of the editing screen, you will see a toggle with two options: Screen and Full Page.
    • Screen: Captures only the visible viewport currently on your display as a standard PNG image.
    • Full Page: Captures the entire scrolling webpage from top to bottom and automatically formats it as a PDF document. You can use the preview bar on the right side to scroll through the entire page and crop it if necessary.
  5. Share or Save the Capture:
    • Tap the Share Sheet icon (the square with an upward-pointing arrow) in the top-right corner to immediately send the PNG screenshot or the Full Page PDF via Messages, Mail, AirDrop, or save it to the Files app.
    • Alternatively, tap Done in the top-left corner to save the standard screenshot directly to the Photos app, or to save the Full Page PDF to the Files app.

Generating a Full Page PDF Directly from the Safari Share Sheet

If you only need a Full Page PDF and do not want to take a physical button screenshot, you can generate the document directly through the Safari Share Sheet menu.

  1. Open the Share Sheet: While viewing the webpage in Safari, tap the Share button located in the browser's navigation bar.
  2. Access Format Options: At the very top of the Share Sheet, directly beneath the webpage title and URL, tap the Options button.
  3. Select PDF: Under the "Send As" menu, change the selection from Automatic to PDF (or choose Reader PDF if you want a simplified view without ads and navigation bars).
  4. Confirm Selection: Tap Done in the top-right corner of the Options menu to return to the main Share Sheet.
  5. Save or Send: Scroll down the Share Sheet and select Save to Files to store the full-page scrolling PDF on your device or iCloud Drive, or select an app from the share carousel to send the PDF directly to a contact.