How to Convert JPG to PDF on Mac

Sharing images with your contacts directly from your Mac is quite simple. You can organize your files using tags in the Finder on your Mac. Sometimes you may want to hide the content of an image or keep its privacy. The best way to do this is to convert an image to PDF, and macOS lets you do that in a jiffy.

Usually, you would think of relying on a third-party app or website to convert your image file to PDF. But what if we told you that the Preview app can do it on your Mac? Yes he can. This article will show you how to convert your JPG files to PDF using Preview app on Mac.

Before you start

Sometimes the older version of macOS often results in running an older version of the apps. This means it is recommended to upgrade the macOS version. For this you will have to install all the pending updates and after that preview app will work like a charm. It will help you when you need to convert large images to PDF. So here is how you can get macOS updates on your Mac.

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search, type Check for software updates, and press Return.

2nd step: If an update is available, download and install it.

Let’s move on to converting a JPG image file to PDF on your Mac using the Preview app.

How to Convert JPG to PDF on Mac

Preview is a versatile application that looks like a humble image viewer on Mac. Undoubtedly, Apple has quietly added several features in the app. So first you need to make sure that the app is working properly. You can refer to our article for fixes when Preview app not working on Mac. Once you’ve got it working, here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Browse the image file on your Mac using Finder and double-click the image file to open it in Preview.

By default, macOS opens all image files in Preview. But, if you selected another default application, right-click the image file icon, select Open With, and then choose Preview from the submenu.

2nd step: When the image opens in the Preview app, click the File option in the top left corner of the menu.

Step 3: Select “Export to PDF” from the pop-up menu.

Step 4: Type the name of your PDF file and select the location of the file on your Mac.

Step 5: Click Show details.

Step 5: Select the paper size and orientation of your PDF file.

Step 6: After selecting your preferences, click Save to convert.

The preview will save the orientation and paper size preferences for saving your JPG as PDF on your Mac. After that, you can navigate to the location where the PDF file is saved and open it again using the Preview app. But what if you want to make that PDF file more secure? Continue reading.

How to Add a Password to a PDF File on Mac

Simply converting an image to PDF is only half the battle. The real challenge is keeping the contents of the file away from prying eyes. Luckily, the Preview app is capable enough to let you add a password to your PDF file. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open the image in the Preview app.

2nd step: Click File in the upper left corner.

Step 3: Select Export to PDF.

Step 4: Click Show details.

Step 5: Click Permissions.

Step 6: Check the box next to “Require a password to open the document”.

Step 7: Enter your password and re-enter it to confirm.

You can also select different permissions for your PDF file which will only be accessible after entering the password.

Step 8: Enter the owner password and re-enter it to verify.

Step 9: Click Apply at the bottom right.

Step 10: Click Save.

How to Convert Image Files to a Single PDF

If you want to add many image files into a single PDF, here’s how to do the same using the Preview app on your Mac.

Step 1: Select all your image files.

2nd step: Double-click to open them in Preview. You will need the thumbnail display bar on the left side. You can click on an image thumbnail and drag it up or down to rearrange them the way you want them to appear in the PDF file.

You can click Rotate on the top right to adjust the orientation of each image file.

Step 3: Click File in the upper left corner.

Step 4: Select Print.

Step 5: Under Page, select All. You can also select the pages (the actual images) from the thumbnail bar in the preview or assign a number range to the images.

Step 6: Click the PDF drop-down menu at the bottom.

Step 7: Select Save as PDF.

Step 8: Assign the name and location of your PDF file.

You can add a password to your PDF file by clicking the Security Options button.

Step 9: After selecting your preferences, click Save at the bottom right.

The Preview app will convert all your selected images into a single PDF file. If you have multiple images of a document, you can create a single PDF of that document and sign it using Adobe Acrobat Reader on your Mac.

Convert JPG to PDF for Free

These steps will help you convert all your JPG or JPEG files to PDF on your Mac without installing any third-party application or uploading the files to any website. Using the Photos app, you can also convert your photos to PDF files on your iPhone. Since PDFs have wider compatibility, sharing your photos with your contacts is easier for various purposes. Also, PDF files are smaller than JPG or HEIC image files.