How to Export to PDF in Adobe InDesign

Updated on:

April 6, 2026

By:

Madhav Bhandari

Use this interactive demo to learn how to export your InDesign documents to high-quality PDF files.

‍

Here’s a simple and quick guide on how to export to PDF (Print) in Adobe InDesign:

‍

To export a file as a PDF in InDesign, go to the top menu and click 'File.'
Click 'File' → 'Export' to start the export process.
The Export panel will open. Select 'Adobe PDF (Print)' as the format.
Click 'Save' to export and save your file as a PDF.

📌 Why this matters

Exporting to PDF preserves your design exactly as intended, ensuring fonts, colors, and layouts display consistently across any device or printer. This becomes crucial when sharing work with clients, printers, or collaborators who may not have InDesign installed.

Print-specific PDF settings also embed proper color profiles and resolution requirements that standard PDF exports often miss. Your carefully crafted typography and spacing remain intact, preventing the formatting disasters that commonly occur when sending native InDesign files or using generic export options.

Your product deserves an interactive demo

Start free

How to Use Pantone Colors in Adobe InDesign

How to Use Data Merge in Adobe InDesign

How to Use Eyedropper in Adobe InDesign