To convert a PDF to Word, open the PDF directly in Word with File > Open. Word warns you that it will make an editable copy and leaves the original PDF untouched. No Word on your computer? Upload the PDF to Google Drive, right-click it and choose Open with > Google Docs, which is free.
How well it works depends on the PDF. Plain text converts cleanly. Tables, columns and scanned pages take more cleanup, and the two methods below explain what to expect.
Which method to use
If Word is installed, start there. Microsoft says the steps apply to Word for Microsoft 365 and to Word 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016. The support page gives one procedure and doesn’t split it into Windows and Mac, so the steps below are the same on both.
If you don’t have Word, or your PDF is really a photo of a page, use Google Docs. All you need is a Google account. It also reads images of text, such as a scanned page.
| Your situation | Best method |
|---|---|
| PDF made of typed text, like a contract or an article | Word |
| Word isn’t installed | Google Docs |
| Scanned PDF or photo of a page | Google Docs |
| Lots of tables and columns | Word, then fix the layout |
Convert a PDF to Word with Word itself
Word converts the file as it opens it. According to Microsoft:
- Open Word and go to File > Open.
- Find the PDF. If it isn’t listed, select Browse.
- Word warns that it will make a copy and convert the contents into an editable format. Select OK.
- Make your edits. The original PDF doesn’t change.
- To save, choose Save and pick the file type from the Save as type list: a Word document or a PDF.
What happens to the layout
Microsoft warns that the converted file may not match the PDF page for page. Lines and pages can break in different places, so scroll through the whole document and check headings, margins and images before you send it to anyone.
Text-heavy PDFs work best, the company says. Book chapters and copier scans may not format well in Word.
Saving it back as a PDF
Done editing and need a PDF again? In Word, go to Export > Create PDF/XPS Document > Create PDF/XPS, pick a location and select Publish. Use Options first if you want to change the file’s properties.
Convert a PDF to Word with Google Docs
Google Docs needs no install and runs in any browser. Per Google Drive Help:
- Go to drive.google.com and upload the PDF.
- Right-click the file.
- Choose Open with, then Google Docs.
- Docs creates a new document with the extracted text. The PDF stays in Drive.
To end up with a Word file, open the document and go to File > Download. Google says you pick the file type there, so choose the Word option to save the document to your computer.
Google Docs limits
Google lists a few conditions for this to work:
- The file should be 2 MB or smaller.
- Supported formats are PDF, JPEG, PNG and GIF.
- Text should be at least 10 pixels high.
On formatting, Google says bold, italics, font size, font type and line breaks are likely to carry over. Lists, tables, columns, footnotes and endnotes are not likely to be detected. If your PDF has a table, plan on rebuilding it by hand.
When the conversion comes out messy
A few fixes cover most problems:
- PDF too big for Google: if the file is over 2 MB, try Word. That limit appears only on Google’s page.
- Crooked text or wrong letters: usually a low-quality photo. Retake it with better light and sharper focus, since Google asks for text at least 10 pixels high. Our guide on how to convert a photo to PDF shows how to make a cleaner PDF.
- Broken table: rebuild the table in Word and paste the contents of each cell.
- Only one passage needs changing: it can be faster to open the PDF, copy the text and paste it into Word than to convert the whole file.
Online converter sites
Plenty of free converters exist, and some work well. The catch is that you upload your file to a third party’s server. For a contract, an ID or anything with a Social Security number, stick with Word or Google Docs, where the file stays on your computer or in your own account. If a converter site hangs or loads wrong, clearing your browser cache often fixes it.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting change my original PDF?
No. Word works on a copy, and Google Docs creates a new document in Drive. The PDF stays as it was.
Can I convert a scanned PDF to Word?
Yes, with Google Docs. Google says it reads PDF, JPEG, PNG and GIF files up to 2 MB. Microsoft warns that copier scans may not format well in Word, so Docs is the better first try.
Why did my PDF table turn into loose text?
Google says tables, columns and lists are not likely to be detected. In Word, Microsoft warns that the layout can change. Rebuild the table in the converted document.
Do I have to pay to convert?
Not with Google Docs: a Google account is enough. If you already have Word installed, the conversion costs nothing extra.
