Save Outlook Message as a PDF File

Summary

You can't directly save a message as a PDF file in Outlook but using the Print option you can save any email as an Adobe PDF document.

Assumption: You have Adobe PDF creator application installed on your computer. 

How To: Save an email as a .pdf file

1. Select and Open the Outlook message you would like to have converted to PDF
2. Go to File and select the Print option
3. In the Printer selection, choose Adobe PDF
4. Click on Print
5. In the pop-up window named Save PDF File As, Name the File (required)
6. Select the correct Folder
7. Click the Save button
8. The email will be converted to PDF and will be saved in the designated folder

Save an Outlook message with attachments as a PDF requires changing the default printer to Adobe PDF before you begin saving.

How To: Change the default printer to Adobe PDF

1. Open Control Panel
2. Click on Devices and Printers 
3. Right Click on Adobe PDF 
4. Choose Default
5. You are now ready to return to Outlook for saving messages and attachments as PDF

How To: Save an Outlook message with attachments as PDF files

1. Select and Open the Outlook message you would like to have converted to PDF
2. Go to File and select the Print option
3. In the Printer selection, choose Adobe PDF
4. Click on Print Options and  Select Print attached files under Print Options
5. Click on Print
6. In the pop-up window named Save PDF File As, Name the File (required)
7. Select the correct Folder
8. Click the Save button
9. The email will be converted to PDF and will be saved in the designated folder
10. You will get another window prompting you to save the attachment. Click Save
11. Check the name of the attachment and locate the correct path to save the attachment
12. Note: After completing, you will probably want to go back and Uncheck Print Attached Files
13. Open Outlook
14. Click on File
15. Click on Print
16. Click on Print Options
17. Uncheck Print attached files

How To: Save multiple Outlook emails as PDF

1. Hold down the CTRL key to highlight & select all the necessary emails
2. Follow the steps listed above for emails with or without attachments
3. All selected emails will be saved in one PDF file

Reset your printer to the printer of choice rather than having Adobe PDF as the default printer after you are done saving an email as PDF

How To: Choose your default printer

1. Open Control Panel
2. Click on Devices and Printers 
3. Right Click on the printer you want to set as your default printer 
4. Choose Default