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Keynote export to PDF not working (iPad)

I've been for days trying to export a document to PDF. Keynote starts creating the PDF and completes the process, but the program crashes and closes before I'm able to save the pdf anywhere. My original document has 4,8MB. I was able to export the document by separating the slides in 3 different sections - which turned out to have 4,6MB each - and it worked, but then I lost my links.

I already tried:

  • uninstalling and reinstalling Keynote
  • restarting the iPad
  • trying to export the document on Keynote on my Phone (same thing happens)


I'm frustrated because I spent (and lost) a lot of time on this document and I need it in PDF format. I already tried to reduce it as much as possible but nothing works. Did anyone go through the same thing and can give me some light?


P.S: I don't have a Macbook, so I couldn't try there.

iPad, iPadOS 15

Posted on Jun 19, 2022 2:42 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 20, 2022 7:44 AM

Hey there sweetsauerkraut,


How exactly are you attempting to export these Keynote files to PDF? If you haven't already, try following the steps on this page: Convert Keynote presentations to PDF, Microsoft PowerPoint, and more - Apple Support. It will walk you through the correct steps on how to open Keynote presentations in other apps after converting them to other file types.


Do you have a password for any of these files? "If the original file has a password, it applies to copies exported in PDF and PowerPoint formats." You can view this information and more here: Export to PowerPoint or another file format in Keynote on iPad - Apple Support.


Also, go to Settings > General > About, and make sure your iPadOS software is up-to-date. If you see anything other than iPadOS 15.5, you'll want to backup and update the software. Here's a guide to help: Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support. The update process can frequently address unexpected software behavior.


Kind regards!

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3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 20, 2022 7:44 AM in response to sweetsauerkraut

Hey there sweetsauerkraut,


How exactly are you attempting to export these Keynote files to PDF? If you haven't already, try following the steps on this page: Convert Keynote presentations to PDF, Microsoft PowerPoint, and more - Apple Support. It will walk you through the correct steps on how to open Keynote presentations in other apps after converting them to other file types.


Do you have a password for any of these files? "If the original file has a password, it applies to copies exported in PDF and PowerPoint formats." You can view this information and more here: Export to PowerPoint or another file format in Keynote on iPad - Apple Support.


Also, go to Settings > General > About, and make sure your iPadOS software is up-to-date. If you see anything other than iPadOS 15.5, you'll want to backup and update the software. Here's a guide to help: Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support. The update process can frequently address unexpected software behavior.


Kind regards!

Jun 20, 2022 8:14 AM in response to genieen16

Hello genieen16, thank you for your answer!


I’ve been trying to export it following the exacr instrunctions you’ve sent me ( clicking (…), Export and then PDF). What happens is that after choosing the layout and clicking “Export” again, the program shows the “Creating PDF”, the blue bar goes all the way to the end and the program crashes - simply closes, before I’m able to tell where I would like to save my file.


I do not have a password for any of my files.


I tried updating the iOS - indeed, I needed to update it! - but it didn’t make a difference. I also already tried reinstalling the program, shutting the iPad off and on, removing all the links (I had a bunch of links inside the document redirecting to external links and other slides inside the same file) and nothing changed.


Only thing that worked was exporting the presentation in sections and then using a program to merge the PDF Files, ending up with a much larger file and losing all my links :/

Keynote export to PDF not working (iPad)

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