How to convert a PDF to Word (and keep it editable)
How to turn a PDF into an editable Word .docx file for free, which of the two layout modes to pick, and what to do with a scanned PDF.
Converting a PDF to Word means rebuilding its text as a real .docx file you can open in Microsoft Word, Google Docs or LibreOffice. How well it matches the original depends on the mode you pick and on how the PDF was made.
Quickest answer: convert a PDF to Word in four steps
- Open PDF to Word and drop your PDF on the page.
- Choose Easy to edit or Keep original layout (see below).
- Click Process File.
- Click Download and open the .docx in your word processor.
Which mode should you choose?
- Easy to editturns the text into ordinary Word paragraphs. It is the best choice when you mainly want to rewrite or reuse the words. Columns and forms become a single column, because the layout is Word's own.
- Keep original layoutplaces each line where it sat on the page, so the document looks close to the PDF. The trade-off: lines are positioned, so editing one doesn't reflow the lines around it.
When the result looks wrong
Conversion works from the text inside the PDF. If the document is a scan, there is no text to convert, so run OCR first and convert the searchable result. No converter reproduces every design exactly, so check headings, tables and fonts after converting, and expect to tidy complex layouts.
Going the other way? Word to PDF turns a .docx back into a PDF.
Frequently asked
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Got questions? We've got answers.
How do I convert a PDF to Word for free?
Drop the PDF into SmilingPDF's PDF to Word tool, pick a mode, click Process File and download the .docx. It is free with no watermark or account.
Will the formatting be exactly the same?
Not always. Keep original layout gets close by positioning each line where it was, but no converter matches every design perfectly. Review the file after converting.
Why is my converted Word file empty or blank?
The PDF is probably a scan, which is an image with no text. Run OCR first to add a text layer, then convert.
What is the difference between the two modes?
Easy to edit reflows the text into normal paragraphs so it is simple to change. Keep original layout places each line where it was, so it looks more like the PDF but is harder to reflow.
Is my PDF uploaded to be converted?
No. The conversion runs in your browser and the file is not sent to a SmilingPDF server.
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