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Microsoft labels this feature experimental and keeps it off by default. Treat it as suitable for evaluation and controlled deployments, and test the result on the devices and data sizes your users will actually use.
Enable the PDF function in Power Apps Studio
- Sign in to Power Apps and open an existing canvas app, or create a new canvas app.
- In Power Apps Studio, select Settings on the command bar.
- Choose Upcoming features.
- Open the Experimental tab.
- Turn on PDF function.
- Select a button (or add one), select its OnSelect property, and enter a formula such as
PDF(SubmitInspectionScreen);. ReplaceSubmitInspectionScreenwith the actual screen name in your app. - Save and publish the app. Run the published app and select the button to generate the PDF object.
The setting applies in the authoring environment, so collaborators who edit the app should use an environment where the experimental option is available. Because experimental features can change, verify the behavior after Power Apps updates before depending on it for a critical workflow.
Call the function from a behavior property
PDF() is a behavior formula. A behavior property is one that runs in response to an event or lifecycle change, including OnSelect, OnVisible, and OnHidden. The most transparent pattern is a button that lets the user request a document:
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PDF(SubmitInspectionScreen);The target can be the screen currently visible to the user, or a supported portion of that screen. If your screen is named InspectionScreen, use:
PDF(InspectionScreen);Do not assume that an arbitrary hidden screen, nested control, or unsupported control can be rendered. Build the export action on the screen the user is viewing, and keep the content you need to export inside supported containers or galleries.
Store the generated PDF in a variable
The result is held in memory. Assign it to a variable when you need to pass the document to another action:
Set(myPDF, PDF(SubmitInspectionScreen));You can then use myPDF with an action connector, such as Office 365 Outlook, or pass it to a Power Automate flow. The exact connector configuration determines how the in-memory object becomes an attachment or flow input; the PDF function itself only creates the object.
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The function can generate a PDF from a whole screen or from documented supported targets. Microsoft lists screens, vertical galleries, horizontal or vertical layout containers, and containers. This gives you two practical designs:
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Export the whole visible screen
Use a screen target when the PDF should mirror the current app view, including its arrangement of controls:
Set(myPDF, PDF(SubmitInspectionScreen));This is convenient for an inspection summary or receipt where all relevant fields already occupy one screen. Ensure that the screen is the one currently visible when the formula runs.
Export a supported gallery or container
Use a supported gallery or container when the screen contains navigation, buttons, or other material that should not appear in the document. Put the report content in the supported target and call PDF() for that target. This approach also makes it easier to control spacing and page composition without redesigning the entire screen.
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Nested galleries are a documented limitation, so avoid relying on a gallery inside another gallery for a complete export. Test a representative record set rather than assuming that a layout that looks correct in Studio will paginate identically.
Control paper, resolution, margins, and orientation
Optional parameters let you configure paper size, DPI, margins, orientation, and whether containers expand. Microsoft documents these defaults:
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| Setting | Documented default or behavior | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| DPI | 96 DPI | Higher resolution can improve detail but increases memory use and file size. |
| Orientation | Portrait | Landscape is generally better for wide tables or horizontal layouts. |
| Margins | 0.5 inch | Changing margins affects usable page width and possible clipping. |
| Paper size | Letter in the United States and Canada; A4 in other locales | Page breaks and wrapping can change with the paper standard. |
| ExpandContainers | Optional parameter | Controls whether supported containers expand to fit their contents. |
Use the parameter syntax documented for the version of the PDF function exposed in your tenant. Since this feature is experimental and the reference page is prerelease documentation, confirm argument names and accepted values in the formula editor rather than copying an example that your environment does not recognize. Start with defaults, then change one setting at a time while checking page breaks, clipping, and file size.
Send the PDF to a connector or flow
A common workflow is to generate the object, store it, and pass it to an action:
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Set(myPDF, PDF(SubmitInspectionScreen));. - Call your connector or Power Automate flow from the same behavior formula, passing
myPDFas the file content expected by that action. - Use a meaningful file name and destination in the connector or flow.
- Test with a small document, then with the largest realistic record set.
Keep generation and delivery conceptually separate. If the formula creates a PDF but the email or flow fails, inspect the connector input and authentication independently of the rendering step. Conversely, a successful flow does not prove that every control rendered correctly.
PDF function versus PDF viewer control
The PDF function creates a PDF object from app content. The PDF viewer is a separate experimental control that displays a PDF document. Enabling or using one does not automatically configure the other.
The viewer accepts only HTTPS direct PDF links and requires anonymous access to the document. A host with restrictive CORS settings can block the viewer unless it permits requests from powerapps.com. The viewer also does not support printing. If users need a mailed or archived copy, pass the generated object to a connector or flow instead of assuming the viewer is a printing solution.
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Known limitations and layout risks
- Charts, Power BI tiles, maps, and some third-party PCF control configurations may not render as expected.
- Nested galleries are unsupported.
- The function cannot create fillable PDFs.
- Some non-Latin scripts, font weights, or font styles may not render for particular fonts.
- Generation happens on the device running the app. Exceptionally large files can crash the app when the device lacks sufficient capacity.
These constraints make a controlled template safer than exporting an arbitrary dashboard. Prefer standard controls and fonts, keep long collections paginated or grouped, and test on the phones, tablets, browsers, or desktop clients used by your audience. Do not promise identical output across devices without testing the same data and layout on each target.
Troubleshoot common problems
“PDF” is not recognized
Confirm that Settings > Upcoming features > Experimental > PDF function is enabled in the app. Save the app, reopen Studio if necessary, and check that the formula is entered in a behavior property rather than a value property. Experimental features can also be unavailable or renamed in some environments.
The formula returns an error for the target
Check the screen or control name letter by letter and ensure that it is a supported target. Start with the currently visible screen. If a complex control is involved, move the intended content into a supported container or gallery and test that target alone.
The PDF is blank or missing content
Verify that the target screen is visible when the behavior formula runs and that data-loading formulas have finished. Remove unsupported charts, maps, Power BI tiles, or third-party controls from a test copy. For galleries, test a simple vertical gallery before adding nesting or complex templates.
Text or fonts look wrong
Try a commonly available font, avoid relying on unusual weights or styles, and test the scripts your users enter. Non-Latin text support can vary by font, so a successful Latin-only test is not sufficient.
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The app closes or becomes unresponsive
Reduce the amount of content, lower an unnecessarily high DPI setting, and test with fewer gallery rows. Since rendering is performed on the device, compare behavior on a more capable device and avoid generating exceptionally large files in one operation.
The PDF viewer cannot display the file
Check that the source is a direct HTTPS PDF URL, that anonymous access is allowed, and that the host’s CORS policy permits requests from powerapps.com. Remember that the viewer cannot print; use a connector or flow for distribution.
Production checklist
- Enable the experimental feature in the app and record that dependency for maintainers.
- Use a visible button or another deliberate behavior trigger for generation.
- Export only a supported screen, gallery, or container.
- Test Letter and A4 output when users operate in different locales.
- Check portrait and landscape layouts, margins, page breaks, and long text.
- Test charts, maps, PCF controls, non-Latin text, and gallery-heavy screens explicitly.
- Measure the largest realistic document on each supported device class.
- Provide a connector or flow path when users need storage, email, or archival.
- Re-test after Power Apps changes because the function remains experimental.
Or skip the browser setup
If your requirement is a clean screenshot or PDF of a public website rather than a PDF generated from Power Apps controls, ScreenshotNeo provides a one-request API. It is a different workflow: it captures a URL, while Power Apps’ PDF() function renders app content on the user’s device.
Use the API documentation at https://screenshotneo.com/docs/ for the available parameters. A basic cURL request is:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpPython:
import requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js:
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);ScreenshotNeo accepts cookie or consent banners as a visitor and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; each cleanup step can be turned off. Bot checks or CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server lets Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients use take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month without a card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. Create a free ScreenshotNeo account to try it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I enable the PDF function in a model-driven Power App?
The documented setting and formula in this guide apply to canvas apps in Power Apps Studio. Confirm the feature availability for your app type before designing a workflow around it.
Does PDF() save a file automatically?
No. It creates an in-memory PDF object. Store it in a variable and pass that object to a supported connector or Power Automate flow for delivery or storage.
Can the PDF function make a fillable form?
No. Creating fillable PDFs is a documented limitation.
Why is my PDF different on a phone and a desktop?
Rendering occurs on the device running the app, and device capacity and layout conditions can differ. Test on each device class you support.
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