How to Make a Flyer on Your Computer in 2026

Making a flyer on your computer gets frustrating fast when you start in the wrong app. A school notice, sale handout, church event, or business promo needs a tool that matches the layout you want. Start with the easiest template route, then export a PDF or print it without wrecking the design.

1. Pick the right flyer app

1. 1.Use Canva when you want a drag-and-drop flyer maker in your browser. Go to Canva flyer maker, select Start Designing a Flyer, choose a template or start blank, then customize the text, images, brand colors, and layout.
2. 2.Use Microsoft Word when you want a familiar document editor. Open Word, select File, choose New, search for a template, select it, then choose Create.
3. 3.Use Adobe Express when you want quick template editing. Open Adobe Express, select Templates in the left panel, search for flyer templates, choose one, then customize the text, images, colors, and assets.
4. 4.Use Google Docs when the flyer is mostly text. On a computer, open Google Docs, select Template Gallery, choose a template, then edit the copy, images, and layout.
5. 5.Use Pages on Mac when you want Apple templates. Open Pages, choose New Document or File then New, double-click a document, poster, or stationery template, then replace the placeholder content.

Pick the tool with the closest template first, because replacing text is faster than rebuilding a flyer from a blank page.

2. Design a flyer in Canva

This fixes the fastest browser-based route for a polished flyer.

1. 1.Go to the Canva flyer maker and select Start Designing a Flyer.
2. 2.Choose a template, or open the editor and select Create a Design, search for flyer, then choose landscape or portrait.
3. 3.Open the Templates tab inside the editor.
4. 4.Enter a specific flyer style in the template search bar, then press Enter.
5. 5.Select a template and customize the text, images, elements, brand colors, and layout with the drag-and-drop editor.
6. 6.Select Download, share the design, or use Canva’s print option when it is ready.

3. Create a flyer in Microsoft Word

1. 1.Open Word.
2. 2.Select File, then New.
3. 3.Search for a flyer template or select one from the available choices.
4. 4.Select the template, then choose Create.
5. 5.Replace the placeholder text with your event, sale, or announcement details.
6. 6.Customize the headings, images, colors, and layout.
7. 7.Use File then Save As, or use Word’s sharing options to save or share the finished flyer.

4. Build a flyer with PowerPoint

This fixes flyers that need a visual poster-style canvas.

1. 1.Open PowerPoint and select New, then Blank Presentation.
2. 2.In PowerPoint for Windows or the web, go to Design, select Slide Size, then choose Custom Slide Size. In PowerPoint for Mac, go to Design, select Slide Size, then choose Page Setup, or use File then Page Setup.
3. 3.Set the page orientation and dimensions, such as a portrait letter-size flyer.
4. 4.Add content with Insert, then choose Pictures, Icons, Shapes, or Text Box.
5. 5.Use File then Export, or File then Save As, to make a PDF.
6. 6.Use File then Print when you want a paper copy.

5. Make a flyer in Google Docs or Slides

1. 1.For a simple flyer in Google Docs, open a blank document.
2. 2.Select File, then Page setup.
3. 3.Choose Pages, then set the orientation, paper size, page color, and margins.
4. 4.Add photos with Insert then Image.
5. 5.Add text boxes and shapes with Insert, then Drawing, then New.
6. 6.For a more visual flyer in Google Slides, use File, then New, then From Template Gallery.
7. 7.To build in Slides manually, use Slide then Change background, plus Insert tools for text boxes, images, shapes, and lines.
8. 8.Finish with File then Download, or select File then Print.

Use Docs for text-heavy flyers and Slides when image placement, shapes, and background design matter more.

6. Make a flyer on a Mac with Pages

1. 1.Open Pages.
2. 2.Select New Document, or choose File then New.
3. 3.In the template chooser, scroll to a document, poster, or stationery template.
4. 4.Double-click the template to open it.
5. 5.Replace the placeholder text and images.
6. 6.For a layout-focused flyer, start from a page-layout template when you can. If you convert an existing word-processing document with File then Convert to Page, duplicate the file or copy your body text and inline images somewhere safe first, because Apple deletes any body text that is not in a text box, along with any objects set to move inline with text.
7. 7.Add text boxes, images, and shapes, then arrange them on the page.
8. 8.Use the Document sidebar and Document tab to set paper size and orientation.

7. Try Adobe Express or InDesign

This fixes flyers that need AI template generation or professional page layout.

1. 1.In Adobe Express, open the home screen and select Templates in the left panel.
2. 2.Search or filter for flyer templates.
3. 3.Select a template and customize the text, images, colors, and assets in the editor.
4. 4.To generate a template with AI, select the plus icon in the left panel, choose Quick actions, then Generative AI, then Generate template.
5. 5.Describe the flyer, select Generate, choose a result, then select Edit template.
6. 6.Select Download or Share when finished.
7. 7.For professional desktop publishing, open InDesign, choose Create New or File then New then Document.
8. 8.Select Print, choose the Letter preset, set units to inches, choose portrait orientation, turn off Facing Pages, adjust margins, then select Create.
9. 9.In InDesign, use frame tools and File then Place for photos, the Type tool for text frames, and the Rectangle tool for design elements.

8. Export or print your flyer

1. 1.In Word, select File, then Print, preview the pages with the arrows, choose the number of copies and other options, then select Print.
2. 2.Use Ctrl+P on Windows or Command+P on Mac as the Word print shortcut.
3. 3.In Word for the web, print by generating a PDF copy first.
4. 4.In Word desktop for Windows, print colored backgrounds and full-page artwork by opening File, then Options, then Display, and selecting Print background colors and images under Printing Options.
5. 5.In Word for Mac, open Word, then Preferences, then Print, and select Print background colors and images.
6. 6.In Adobe Express, open the design editor and select File, then Print. Choose Order prints for delivered prints or Print to print from your device.
7. 7.In Pages, use File, then Print, choose a printer, set options, then select Print. To export, choose File, then Export To, then PDF.
8. 8.On a Mac, save a flyer as a PDF from most printable apps by choosing File, then Print, selecting the PDF button or down arrow, then choosing Save as PDF.
9. 9.In LibreOffice, choose File, then Export As, then Export as PDF, or use File then Print.

Export a PDF before sending the flyer to someone else, because it keeps the layout easier to share and print from another computer.

9. Avoid Publisher and old Clip Art steps

Older flyer tutorials often recommend Microsoft Publisher or Insert then Clip Art, but those are the wrong places to start now. Publisher remains available for Microsoft 365 and Publisher 2021 until October 1, 2026, then Microsoft support ends and Microsoft 365 subscribers will lose access. In current Microsoft 365 apps, traditional Clip Art has been replaced by Insert then Pictures then Stock Images, along with icons, stickers, illustrations, and related assets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest program to make a flyer on a computer?

Canva is the quickest choice for a browser-based drag-and-drop flyer. Adobe Express is another strong template option, while Word, Google Docs, and Pages work well when you prefer a document editor.

Can I make a flyer without paying for design software?

Yes. Canva, Adobe Express, Google Docs, Word for the web, Apple Pages on Mac, and LibreOffice all support template-based or blank flyer workflows depending on your account and device.

Should I use Word or PowerPoint for a flyer?

Use Word for a simple document-style flyer from a template. Use PowerPoint when you want a custom poster canvas with more control over pictures, icons, shapes, and text boxes.

How do I print a flyer with the background color in Word?

In Word for Windows, go to File > Options > Display and turn on Print background colors and images. On Mac, go to Word > Preferences > Print and turn on Print background colors and images.

Can I make a flyer on a Mac without Microsoft Office?

Yes. Use Pages, choose New Document or File > New, open a document, poster, or stationery template, replace the placeholders, then print or export the flyer as a PDF.