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To convert a TIFF to PDF, open the file in a converter that reads every page stored inside it and places each page into a PDF at its real size. The simplest free way is to drop your .tif or .tiff file into the WoowPDF TIFF to PDF converter, which builds the PDF in your browser and keeps every page of a multi-page TIFF.
This guide covers that method, the built in routes on Windows and Mac, why some converters keep only the first page, and what compression means for quality and file size.
Why convert TIFF to PDF at all?
TIFF is still what many document scanners, fax servers and archive systems produce, but it is awkward to share. Phones and browsers often will not open it, some email systems block it, and many viewers show only the first page of a multi-page TIFF. A PDF opens everywhere, keeps the pages together in order and can be signed, merged or made searchable.
How to convert TIFF to PDF online (step by step)
- Open the TIFF to PDF converter.
- Drop one or more .tif or .tiff files on the page. Several files are joined into one PDF in the order you add them.
- Choose the page size. Same as image uses the resolution stored in the TIFF, so a 300 DPI scan of an A4 sheet stays an A4 page. A4 or Letter fits every page onto that paper, turned to landscape for wide images.
- Choose a margin: none, small or large.
- Click Convert and download the PDF.
The file is never uploaded: the TIFF is read and the PDF is built in your browser, which matters for contracts, medical letters and invoices. In our own test today, a 2 page TIFF with LZW compression came out as a 2 page PDF.
How do you convert a multi-page TIFF to PDF?
Use a converter that reads every page (every image directory) inside the file, not just the first one. Our converter turns each page of a multi-page TIFF into one PDF page in the same order, and skips the small preview thumbnails some scanners store next to the real pages.
If you have ever received a one page PDF from a ten page fax, this is why: the TIFF format keeps all pages in one file, and tools that treat TIFF like a normal photo read the first image and stop. Always check the page count after converting.
Compression, quality and file size
TIFF files can use several kinds of compression, and that decides how your PDF looks and how big it gets.
| TIFF compression | Typical source | What happens in the PDF |
|---|---|---|
| CCITT Group 3 or Group 4 | Fax machines, black and white scans | Copied as it is, because PDF supports the same compression. Pages stay crisp and small. |
| JPEG | Color and photo scans | Copied as it is, with no second round of JPEG loss |
| LZW, Deflate, PackBits | Office scanners, archive exports | Decoded and stored again with lossless compression, so no pixel changes |
| Uncompressed | Older scanners, image editors | Stored with lossless compression, often much smaller than the TIFF |
Because nothing is recompressed with loss, your PDF looks exactly like the TIFF. That also means it is usually about the same size. If a color scan is too big to email, run the result through Compress PDF, which shrinks the images at some cost in quality, so check the result before you send it.
Two kinds of file are not supported: BigTIFF (the variant used for files over 4 GB) and very old JPEG compressed TIFFs. Save those as PNG or JPG in an image editor first.
How to convert TIFF to PDF on Windows
Windows can save a picture as PDF through its built in Microsoft Print to PDF printer:
- In File Explorer, right click the TIFF and choose Print. On Windows 11 it may sit under Show more options.
- In the Print Pictures window, set the printer to Microsoft Print to PDF.
- Pick the paper size and layout. If the edges are cut off, clear the Fit picture to frame box.
- Click Print, then choose a name and folder for the PDF.
This route prints the image onto a paper size, so it can add white borders or scale the scan. With multi-page TIFFs, count the pages in the result before you delete the original.
How to convert TIFF to PDF on Mac
Preview, the viewer built into macOS, opens TIFF files and shows the pages of a multi-page TIFF in its sidebar.
- Open the TIFF in Preview.
- Choose File > Export as PDF, then pick a name and location.
You can also choose File > Print, click the PDF button and save, as Apple describes in its guide to saving a document as a PDF on Mac. Preview converts one file at a time; to join several TIFFs into one PDF, add them all to the online converter instead.
Which method should you choose?
| You have | Best method |
|---|---|
| A multi-page fax or scan, or several TIFFs to join | WoowPDF TIFF to PDF |
| One single page TIFF on a Mac | Preview, Export as PDF |
| One single page TIFF on Windows | Microsoft Print to PDF |
| Confidential scans | Any method that runs on your device, such as our browser tool or Preview |
Should you run OCR after converting a scanned TIFF?
Yes, if you need to search, copy or select the text. A TIFF is a picture of the page, so the PDF you get is a picture too. Run it through PDF OCR to add a hidden text layer; it also works in your browser. Our guide on how to make a PDF searchable explains which settings give the best accuracy.
OCR is worth it for contracts, invoices and letters you will look up later. For photos, drawings or signatures it adds nothing.
Common problems and fixes
Only the first page converted. The tool read the TIFF as a single image. Convert again with a multi-page aware converter.
The page is the wrong size. Some TIFFs store no resolution, so the page size is a guess. Pick A4 or Letter to fit the page onto real paper.
The file will not open. Check that it really is a TIFF (renamed files are common), and re-save BigTIFF or old JPEG TIFFs as PNG or JPG.
The PDF is too big. Compress it after converting, or scan at 200 to 300 DPI next time instead of higher.
Convert your TIFF to PDF now
Drop your scans or faxes into the free TIFF to PDF converter, keep every page in order, and download a PDF that anyone can open, without uploading a thing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a TIFF to PDF for free?
Drop the file into the WoowPDF TIFF to PDF converter, choose the page size and click Convert. It runs in your browser with no sign up, and the file is not uploaded.
Why does my TIFF to PDF conversion only show one page?
A multi-page TIFF stores all pages in one file, and some tools read only the first image. Use a converter that reads every page, such as WoowPDF TIFF to PDF, and check the page count afterwards.
Is TIF the same as TIFF?
Yes. TIF and TIFF are two spellings of the same file extension for the Tagged Image File Format. Both convert the same way.
Does converting TIFF to PDF reduce quality?
Not with WoowPDF. Fax and JPEG image data is copied into the PDF as it is, and LZW or uncompressed images are stored with lossless compression, so the pages look identical.
Can I combine several TIFF files into one PDF?
Yes. Add all the TIFF files to the converter at once and they are joined into a single PDF, page after page, in the order you added them.
Is the text in a converted TIFF searchable?
No, not straight away, because a TIFF is an image. Run the PDF through PDF OCR to add a text layer you can search and copy.
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