How to Convert a PDF to Word (Free)

Method 1: Microsoft Word (best quality)

Works in Word 2013 and later on Windows, and recent versions on Mac.

Open Word, then File > Open, and choose the PDF.
Click OK when Word says it will convert the PDF.
Review the result and save as .docx.

✅ Keeps most formatting · ✅ Runs locally (private) · ✅ OCRs scans

Method 2: Google Docs (free, any device)

Upload the PDF to Google Drive.
Right-click it > Open with > Google Docs.
Choose File > Download > Microsoft Word (.docx).

✅ Free · ✅ OCR included · ❌ Loses most layout, images and tables

Method 3: Online converters

Adobe, Smallpdf, iLovePDF and others offer free PDF-to-Word conversion, often with better layout retention than Google Docs. Free tiers may limit the number of conversions per day. Avoid uploading confidential documents.

Method 4: LibreOffice (free, offline)

LibreOffice opens PDFs in Draw by default, which is good for small edits, but it doesn’t produce a flowing Word document. For true conversion, Word or an online tool is better.

Tips for better results

Problem	Try this
Scanned PDF comes out as images	Make sure OCR runs (Word/Google Docs), or OCR the PDF first
Tables break apart	Convert to Excel instead, or use an online PDF-to-Excel tool
Fonts change	Install the missing fonts, or accept substitutes
You only need a few paragraphs	Just copy the text

Frequently asked questions

Why does my converted Word file look messy?

PDFs don't store paragraphs, columns or tables the way Word does, so the converter has to guess. Simple documents convert well; complex layouts, forms and multi-column designs often need manual cleanup.

Can I convert a PDF to Word on my phone?

Yes. The Microsoft Word mobile app can open PDFs and convert them, or you can use an online converter in your phone browser.