Print Shortcut (Ctrl+P / ⌘P)
Print is ⌘P on Mac and Ctrl+P on Windows. Plus save-as-PDF and page setup.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⌘P | Ctrl+P | ||
| Save as PDF | ⌘P then PDF menu | Ctrl+P then Save as PDF | |
| Page setup | ⌘⇧P | (in print dialog) | |
| Print selection (browsers) | ⌘P then Selection | Ctrl+P then Selection | |
| Close print dialog | Esc | Esc | |
| Print current frame only | ⌘P then 'Only the selected frame' | Right-click frame → This Frame → Print | |
| Open system print dialog (bypass preview) | ⌘⌥P | Ctrl+Shift+P | |
| Print to PDF directly | ⌘P → PDF → Save as PDF | Ctrl+P → Microsoft Print to PDF |
Print or save to PDF
⌘P (Mac) or Ctrl+P (Windows) opens the print dialog in any app. You don't need a printer to use it: choose Save as PDF (Windows) or the PDF menu (Mac) to turn any page or document into a clean PDF file.
Print only what you need
In browsers, select the part of the page you want, press ⌘P / Ctrl+P, and set the range to "Selection" to avoid printing ads and navigation.
Troubleshooting: Ctrl+P not working
If Ctrl+P / ⌘P does nothing, the app has probably captured the shortcut for something else. In Photoshop, Ctrl+P is Print but some remote-desktop and virtual-machine windows swallow it — click inside the document first. In browsers, use the ⋮ menu → Print as a fallback. If the print dialog opens but shows no printer, choose Save as PDF / Microsoft Print to PDF — you can print the PDF later from any device.
Make ⌘P save straight to PDF (Mac)
You can turn ⌘P into a one-stop PDF button. In System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → App Shortcuts, add a shortcut named exactly Save as PDF (no ellipsis on modern macOS) and bind it to ⌘P. Press ⌘P once to open Print, then again to save a PDF — no trackpad needed.
Related: capture the screen instead with Print Screen (PrtScn), or force a new page in Word with the Page Break shortcut.
FAQ
What does Ctrl+P do?
Ctrl+P (⌘P on the Mac) opens the print dialog in nearly every app, where you can also save the document as a PDF.
How do I save a webpage as a PDF?
Press Ctrl+P / ⌘P, then choose "Save as PDF" (Windows) or the PDF dropdown (Mac) as the destination instead of a printer.
Can I print just part of a page?
Yes — select the text first, then in the print dialog set the range to "Selection" to print only what you highlighted.
Why does Ctrl+P not open the print dialog?
The app or an extension has reassigned the key. Click inside the document first, or use the app's menu → Print. In remote-desktop/VM sessions the host may capture Ctrl+P instead.
How do I print without the dialog popping up?
Many apps offer a 'Quick Print' that sends straight to your default printer. In browsers there is no silent print for security reasons — you always see the dialog.
How do I make ⌘P save directly as PDF on Mac?
Open System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → App Shortcuts, click +, type the menu title "Save as PDF" exactly (no ellipsis on macOS High Sierra and later), and assign ⌘P. Now pressing ⌘P twice — once to open Print, once more — saves straight to PDF with no mouse.