Export Formats for Apple Freeform in iOS 18

Apple’s Freeform app provides a flexible canvas for brainstorming and visual planning, but sharing a finished project often requires converting it into an accessible document. This guide details the supported file export formats available for completed Freeform boards in iOS 18, along with alternative methods for sharing your work across different platforms.

Primary Supported Export Format: PDF

In iOS 18, the primary and only direct standalone file format supported for exporting an entire Freeform board is PDF (Portable Document Format).

When you choose to export your board, Freeform compiles all notes, sketches, media, shapes, and text into a single, scalable vector PDF document. This format ensures that your layout, fonts, and vector illustrations retain their original clarity and resolution regardless of how far the recipient zooms in.

To export a board as a PDF:

  1. Open the board in Freeform on iOS 18.
  2. Tap the More icon (the three dots inside a circle) in the top navigation bar.
  3. Select Export as PDF.
  4. Choose where to save the file via the iOS Share Sheet, such as the Files app, AirDrop, Mail, or third-party cloud storage.

Alternative Sharing and Output Options

While PDF is the sole dedicated file type exported directly by the app, iOS 18 provides additional workflows for distributing your content:

  • Live iCloud Collaboration Links: Instead of exporting a static file, you can share a board invite link. Recipients with an Apple ID running compatible versions of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS can view or edit the board directly within their own Freeform app.
  • Print Preview (Paged PDF): Using the Print command from the Share Sheet allows you to convert the freeform canvas into multi-page layouts formatted for standard paper sizes (such as Letter or A4). Pinching outward on the print preview creates a paginated PDF that can be saved directly to the Files app.
  • Clipboard and Screenshots (PNG/JPEG): Freeform does not currently feature a native "Export as PNG" or "Export as JPEG" button for the entire canvas. However, you can select individual items, photos, or groups of objects and choose Copy to paste them into image editors or messaging apps, or capture a screenshot of specific Scenes to save standard raster image files to your Photos library.