How to convert RTF to PDF

You wrote a document in RTF format. Now you would like to convert it to PDF, to be able to distribute it without having to make changes inside it, but you don’t know how to proceed. Well, if that’s the way it is, know that I think I can help you: all you have to do is give me a few minutes of your time.

In today’s guide, in fact, I will explain how to convert RTF to PDF using simple and immediate solutions, which will allow you to perform this operation both on PC, and on smartphones and tablets. You just have to carefully read the tips that I will give you in the next chapters and put them into practice: by doing so, I am sure you will find everything you need to achieve your goal.

If you can’t wait to get started, get to work right away. Sit down, therefore, nice comfortable, take all the time you need to identify the solutions that best suit your needs and put in place the procedures that I will show you below. Having said that, I just have to wish you a good reading and, above all, a good job!

Index

• How to convert RTF file to PDF for free
  • How to convert an RTF file to PDF on Windows
  • How to convert RTF to PDF on Mac
  • How to convert an RTF file to PDF on online
  • How to convert an RTF file to PDF on Android
  • How to convert RTF file to PDF on iOS / iPadOS

How to convert RTF file to PDF for free

If you want to convert an RTF file to PDF for free, in the next chapters I will give you several solutions that you can use on your PC, or even on your Mac. I will also report online services, which will allow you to operate without having to install any software on your PC, and apps to use on your smartphone or tablet.

How to convert an RTF file to PDF on Windows

On Windows, you don’t need to install any software for converting RTF files to PDF. In fact, RTF files can be viewed and edited using WordPad, the word processing software pre-installed on Microsoft’s operating systems.

After you open a file in WordPad, you can directly export it to PDF using the virtual printer. This is already available on the most recent versions of Windows but, in case you do not find it through the procedures that I will describe, you can install it separately:  doPDF is the one I recommend the most (I have talked about it in detail in this guide of mine ).

Furthermore, I warn you that through the procedure that I will show you shortly you will be able to convert RTF files to PDF with any word processor: not only WordPad, but also  Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer and others. Having said that, let’s go back to WordPad.

The first thing you need to do is open the RTF document you want to convert to  WordPad, either by double-clicking on it or by selecting WordPad from the Open With menu accessible by right-clicking on the document icon. After the software has started showing you the contents of the RTF file, go to the File> Print> Print menu   (top left) and locate the PDF printer among those in the list, in the screen you see.

At this point, select the virtual printer and press the Print button. Then choose the destination folder where to save the PDF file, indicate a name to assign to it, press the Save button and that’s it.

How to convert RTF to PDF on Mac

If you are using a Mac, you will be happy to know that you can convert RTF files to PDF in an equally simple way than the one I described in the previous chapter dedicated to Windows. All you have to do is use the TextEdit software, already included “standard” on Apple computers.

After you have opened the RTF file with TextEdit, click on the File> Export as PDF items, which you find in the menu bar at the top. Once this is done, select the destination folder, indicate a name to assign to the file and press Save to start generating the PDF file.

If you don’t find this menu item, you can convert via the print functionality. Therefore, go to the File> Print menu and, in the screen that is shown to you, press the PDF button, at the bottom left.

In the box that you see, then select the item Save as PDF and perform the same procedures I gave you in the previous lines: therefore, indicate a destination folder where to save the PDF file, enter the name of the file and press Save, to confirm.

How to convert an RTF file to PDF on online

Another, simpler way you can take to convert an RTF file to PDF is undoubtedly the one offered by online services, which allow you to transform documents into other formats, without having to install any additional software on your PC.

Among these services, the one I recommend you try is Online2PDF, which allows you to perform this operation safely, as the file transfer takes place in an encrypted manner and without the documents being stored on the server (if not only for necessary to allow the conversion of the file). The maximum size of each file to be uploaded is 100MB, which can reach up to 150MB in the case of multiple files to be processed at the same time.

That said, let’s take action. First, go to the main page of Online2PDF and press the Select files button, which you find in the center. At this point, make sure that the PDF file item is selected in the drop-down menu at the bottom and press the Convert button. In a few moments, the file will be converted and downloaded automatically. It was simple, wasn’t it?

How to convert an RTF file to PDF on Android

If you want to use an app on your Android smartphone or tablet to convert an RTF file to PDF, in the next paragraphs I will point out some solutions that can be for you.

Predefined tools

Mobile devices with an Android operating system have a pre-installed virtual PDF printer. Thanks to the latter, it is possible to open any RTF document with a word processing app, and then print it in PDF.

To do this, what I recommend you do is install an app to edit RTF files, such as Word or even Google Docs, which is usually already present on the device. When you tap on the RTF file, to open it, select the word processor app that is recommended to you, to view its content.

In case you are using the Google Docs app after it has started showing you the content of the RTF file, press the ⋮ icon, located at the top right, and select the items Share and export> Print from the menu you see.

At this point, in the new screen that is shown to you, select the PDF printer from the drop-down menu at the top and press on the disk icon to save the file, indicating the destination folder and confirming everything using the Save button.

PDF Converter

As an alternative to the “standard” solution that I proposed in the previous chapter, you can also install a third-party app to convert an RTF file to PDF. Among those available on the Android Play Store, I recommend PDF Converter.

Although the app is free, it has several limitations, such as you can convert a maximum of five files per day or you cannot process multiple files at the same time. In any case, if you are interested in removing these limitations, including advertising banners, you can subscribe to a subscription for 2.99 euros/month or 24.99 euros/year. In any case, it is possible to test its Premium features for the first 7 days.

After downloading and installing the app, launch it and, on its main screen, press the + icon. At this point, go to the Rich Text tab, at the top, and locate the RTF file on the device memory. If you don’t find it, you can help with the Browse button at the top.

In the box on the screen, then presses the item PDF Portable Document Format, enter a name to be attributed to the file and press the OK button to start converting the file to the selected format.

How to convert RTF file to PDF on iOS / iPadOS

If you have an iPhone or an iPad, you will be happy to know that you can easily convert an RTF file to PDF using the iOS / iPadOS virtual printer or through special apps, which I will talk about in the next paragraphs.

Predefined tools

On iOS and iPadOS, the functionality of printing documents in PDF format is available. To make use of it, all you need to do is open the RTF file via the Apple OS Preview app.

If the RTF file is online, it will be automatically displayed in the Safari browser, without being downloaded to the device memory. If, on the other hand, the file is present on iCloud or on the internal memory, through the File app, you can reach it and open it.

After you have opened the RTF file, tap on the share icon and, in the preview screen that is shown to you, zoom in on one of the thumbnails. Now, tap again on the sharing icon and press on the Save to File item, to select the destination folder where to save the PDF file.

You can also use a quick command using the iOS Commands app – it’s easier and more immediate, as it allows you to save any document to PDF. I have explained to you in detail how to do it in my guide dedicated to the topic.

EasyPDF

In addition to what I told you in the previous chapter, you can also install a third-party app to convert an RTF file to PDF. The app in question that I want to tell you is EasyPDF, which can be downloaded for free from the App Store.

After downloading and installing the app, start it via its icon on the home screen and tap the word Skip. Once this is done, press the + icon and select the Browse item from the bottom box. Now, choose the RTF file you want to convert and hit the Convert button at the top.

Now you just have to click on Convert to PDF, which you find below, to confirm the conversion of the RTF file into the indicated format. The file will be automatically saved within the app and, using the share icon at the top, you can share it on other apps, for example via email, via WhatsApp or simply save it to iCloud.