How to Convert a PDF to Word (3 Free Methods)

Someone sent you a PDF contract and you need to update the delivery date on page 3. Or you have an old PDF report and want to reuse the data tables in a new document. The problem is that PDF files are designed to be read, not edited.

The solution is to convert the PDF to a Word doc, make your changes, and then save it back to PDF if needed. Here are two ways to do it for free.

Method 1: Convert Online (Any Device)

The fastest way to convert a PDF to Word is to use an online converter. No software needed.

1. Open PDF to Word in your browser.
2. Drag your PDF file into the upload area.
3. Click Convert.
4. Download your editable Word document (DOCX).

Each PDF page becomes one Word page with the same layout: the text is placed in text boxes exactly where it was on the page, and images stay in their place. Click into any text box to change the words, in Microsoft Word or any word processor.

Best for: Quick conversions on any device, especially when you do not have Word installed.

Method 2: Open a PDF in Word Directly

Microsoft Word (2013 and later) can open PDF files directly and convert them to editable documents:

1. Open Microsoft Word.
2. Go to File > Open and select your PDF file.
3. Word will show a message saying it will convert the PDF to an editable Word document. Click OK.
4. Edit the document as needed.

The catch: Word's built-in conversion works well for simple, text-heavy documents. But for PDF files with complex layouts, multiple columns, or lots of images, the formatting often breaks. You may spend more time fixing the layout than it would take to just retype the content.

Best for: Simple, text-heavy PDF files when you already have Word open.

Which Method Should You Use?

Method	Keeps the Page Layout	Best For	Works on Mobile
ToolifyPDF	Yes (1 PDF page = 1 Word page)	Changing words in forms, letters, flyers	Yes
Word (Open PDF)	Often breaks	Rewriting long, simple text	No

Use ToolifyPDF when the layout matters and you only need to change some words. Word's built-in import turns the text into normal paragraphs, which is handier for rewriting long text, but complex layouts often break.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert a PDF to Word on Mac? Open ToolifyPDF in Safari or any browser on your Mac, upload your PDF, and download the Word file. Word for Mac can also open PDF files directly (File > Open), but formatting accuracy varies.

Can I convert a scanned PDF to Word? A scanned PDF is made of images, so the Word file would only contain pictures of the pages. Run PDF OCR first to add real text, then convert the result to Word.

Will my tables and images be preserved? Images are placed in their original positions, and tables keep their look. The text of each cell is a separate text box, though, not a real Word table, so rows and columns cannot be edited like a table.

Can I convert a password-protected PDF to Word? You will need to unlock the PDF first. Use the ToolifyPDF Unlock PDF tool to remove the password, then convert to Word.

Wrapping Up

Converting a PDF to Word is straightforward with the right tool. To keep the layout and change some words, use ToolifyPDF. To rewrite long, simple text, Word's built-in feature works well.