How to convert a PDF to an editable Word document
Published
A PDF is made to be read, not edited. When you need to change the wording of a letter, a CV or a report, converting it to Word (.docx) is usually the quickest way.
Two ways to convert
Same look as the PDF keeps every page exactly as it was: boxes, lines, logos and colours stay in place, and all the text is editable on top with its fonts, sizes and colours. Choose it when the design matters, for example a form or a brochure.
Flowing text turns the content into ordinary paragraphs, headings, lists and tables that move as you type. The design is simplified, but it is much easier to rewrite long passages. Choose it for reports, essays and contracts you want to reword.
Step by step
- Open PDF to Word and add your PDF.
- Choose Same look as the PDF or Flowing text.
- Press Convert to Word and save the .docx file.
- Open it in Microsoft Word, Google Docs or LibreOffice and make your changes.
If the Word file comes out empty
A scanned PDF is really a set of photographs of pages, so there is no text to convert. Run OCR PDF first to recognise the text, then convert the searchable PDF to Word.
Small edits do not need Word
To add a line of text, a date or a signature, you can skip the conversion: Edit PDF lets you type on the page directly and save it as a PDF again. When you are done in Word, Word to PDF turns your document back into a PDF.