To open a PDF in Microsoft Word, select File > Open > Browse, choose your PDF, select Open, then select OK to convert a copy. This workflow applies to Word for Microsoft 365 and Word 2024 for Windows and works best with PDFs that contain mostly text. Your original PDF remains unchanged.
Opening a PDF this way turns its contents into a Word document you can edit, but complex layouts and pages made entirely of images may not convert cleanly. The Windows steps below use Windows 11 menus; browser and external conversion options also cover Mac and Chromebook users.
The short version
- Start in Word: Select File > Open > Browse, open your PDF, and accept the conversion prompt.
- Use a shortcut: Press Ctrl + F12 in Word to reach the opening dialog directly.
- Review before saving: Check the converted text and layout, then use File > Save As to save a Word document.
- Choose another route: Browser conversion or Adobe’s PDF to Word converter can produce a DOCX file when local Word cannot import the PDF.
| Method | Best use | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Word’s File > Open menu | Convert a mostly text PDF on Windows | Complex layouts may change |
| Word keyboard shortcuts | Reach the opening controls quickly | Uses the same PDF conversion process |
| File Explorer’s Open with menu | Start from a PDF saved on your PC | Requires desktop Word for Windows |
| OneDrive to Word for the web | Convert a PDF from its browser preview | The option may not appear for every account |
| Direct upload to Word for the web | Upload a PDF for online editing | Conversion availability varies |
| Adobe’s browser converter | Download a DOCX for Word | Repeat downloads may require signing in |
| Acrobat desktop conversion | Export a PDF on Windows or Mac | Requires conversion entitlement |
| OneNote OCR | Extract text from scanned pages | Does not preserve the complete layout |
| Google Docs conversion | Extract text through Google Drive | Complex formatting may be lost |
| Word PDF attachment | Include the PDF in another document | Does not create editable paragraphs |
Open the PDF from Word
Launch Word, then select File > Open > Browse. Locate the PDF, select it, and choose Open. Word explains that it will convert a copy into an editable document; select OK to continue.
For a faster route, press Ctrl + O to open Word’s Open page, or press Ctrl + F12 to display the opening dialog directly. Some keyboards require the Fn key to use function keys. Choose the PDF, select Open, then select OK at the conversion prompt.
Open a PDF from File Explorer
In Windows 11 File Explorer, right-click the PDF, or touch and hold it, then select Open with > Word. When Word is missing from that menu, select Choose another app, choose Word, then select Just once. Select OK when Word offers to convert the PDF. Choosing Just once opens this PDF in Word without making Word the default application for every PDF.
Review the conversion and save a Word copy
Compare the converted document with the original PDF before making extensive edits. Mostly text documents are the best candidates for Word’s conversion, while complex layouts and image-only pages may not become cleanly editable. When a scanned page remains an image, use a text recognition option below.
Make any needed text and layout changes, then select File > Save As and save a Word document. You can double space text in Word when adjusting the converted document’s spacing. You can also add page numbers in Word as you finish its layout.
Keep the editable Word copy if you plan to make further changes. When you need a PDF again, save the Word document as PDF and check the result. Opening the original PDF in Word does not replace that original file.
Try Word in your browser
Microsoft offers PDF conversion through Word for the web, including a OneDrive route you can use from Windows, macOS, or a Chromebook browser. Upload the PDF to OneDrive, open its preview, then select Open > Open in Word. Select OK when prompted, then edit the resulting Word copy.
Microsoft also offers direct PDF uploads through Word’s PDF conversion page. Upload the PDF from your computer or cloud storage, then save or download the converted result. One Microsoft support comparison still lists PDF as unsupported in Word for the web, so these browser conversion options may not be available to you. If an option is missing, use desktop Word for Windows or Adobe’s converter.
Convert with Adobe when Word cannot import the file
For a browser option, open Adobe’s PDF to Word converter and select Select a file, or drag the PDF into the drop zone. Choose your PDF, wait for conversion, then download the DOCX and open it in Word. Adobe says repeat use may require signing in to download.
With an eligible desktop Acrobat plan, open the PDF in Acrobat and select Convert from the global bar. Choose Microsoft Word, then DOCX, and select Convert to DOCX. Choose a destination and filename, select Save, then open the resulting file in Word.
You can use Acrobat conversion on a Mac to create an editable document for Word. Review the converted text and layout before editing further. The free Acrobat Reader viewing entitlement alone does not include PDF to Word export.
Extract text when scanned pages stay as images
A scanned PDF needs optical character recognition, or OCR, to turn the page images into text. On Windows, OneNote for Microsoft 365 and OneNote 2024 can extract text from PDF printouts. Get the app from Microsoft’s OneNote product page if you need it.
In OneNote, select Insert > File Printout, choose the PDF, then select Insert. Right-click a printed page and select Copy Text from All the Pages of the Printout. Switch to your Word document and press Ctrl + V to paste the extracted text.
For a single page, select Copy Text from this Page of the Printout instead. OCR can take time to become available, and the extracted text may contain recognition errors. Check the wording carefully and expect to rebuild formatting because this method extracts text rather than preserving the complete PDF layout.
Use Google Docs as another conversion option
From a computer browser, upload the PDF to Google Drive, right-click it, and select Open with > Google Docs. Once conversion finishes, select File > Download and choose the Word or DOCX output option. Open the downloaded document in Word.
Google recommends PDFs of 2 MB or less for this text conversion workflow. Its OCR can extract scanned text, but complex formatting may be lost. Choose this route when obtaining editable text matters more than keeping the original page design.
Attach the PDF instead of converting it
To include a PDF inside an existing Word document on Windows, place the cursor where you want the attachment and select Insert > Object in the Text group. Select Create from File > Browse, choose the PDF, and select Open or Insert. Select OK to finish embedding it.
The embedded PDF remains an object rather than becoming editable Word paragraphs. Adobe Acrobat or Reader is required to view the embedded PDF, and Word for the web cannot insert these objects. Use a conversion method when you need to change the PDF’s text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make Word open every PDF by default?
Yes, on Windows 11, open Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for .pdf, select the matching file type, and choose Word. Word must be installed and available in the application chooser. This changes the default for all PDF files, so double-clicking one starts Word’s conversion workflow.
Can Word on iPhone or iPad convert a PDF?
Microsoft announced this feature in July 2024 for Microsoft 365 Insiders using Word for iOS Version 2.86, Build 24051517, or later. In that release, open the PDF in Files, tap Share, tap Open in Word, then tap Convert to Docx. Microsoft’s general mobile file format table still lists PDF as unsupported in Word for iPhone and iPad, so if those controls are missing from your app, use a browser converter.
Can you insert a PDF as a picture in Word for Mac?
Yes, in Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac or Word 2024 for Mac, place the cursor and select Insert > Pictures > Picture from File. Choose the PDF and select Insert. This adds graphical content rather than editable text, and Microsoft does not promise that every PDF page will be inserted automatically.
Can you copy just one passage from a PDF into Word?
Yes, open the PDF in a viewer that allows text selection, select and copy the passage, then paste it into Word. The PDF must permit copying. This commonly transfers plain text rather than converting the whole document.
Can Acrobat on a phone create a Word document from a PDF?
Yes, with an Acrobat subscription, on Android select More options > Export as…, choose Document and DOCX, then select Export. On iPhone or iPad, select More options > Export PDF, choose Document and DOCX, then tap Export. The result is saved to Adobe cloud storage, and you can download or share it to Word. Document export also supports OCR for scanned text.