Convert a PDF to Word in three steps
- Open PDF to Word.
- Select your PDF.
- Click Convert to Word and open the .docx file in Microsoft Word, Google Docs or LibreOffice.
What converts well
PDFs that were created from a word processor — reports, letters, contracts, CVs — contain real text. Helpdf rebuilds the paragraphs, headings, bold passages and page breaks so you can edit them directly.
What about scanned PDFs?
A scanned document is a picture of text: there are no letters to extract. If your converted file comes out empty, run the PDF through OCR PDF first. Text recognition adds an invisible text layer; you can then convert the result to Word.
Tips for the cleanest result
- Complex layouts (magazines, multi-column brochures) are harder to convert. Expect to adjust the layout a little.
- Tables are converted line by line. For tables of numbers, PDF to Excel gives better results.
- Fonts: if a font is not installed on your computer, Word replaces it with a similar one.
Only need a small change?
To fill in a date, correct a word or add a note, you do not need to convert at all: Edit PDF lets you add text, cover a mistake with a white box or insert an image directly on the page.
Back to PDF when you are done
After editing, export your document from Word (File → Save as → PDF) or use Word to PDF to share a version that looks the same on every device.