PDFs are made for sharing, not editing. When you need to change the text, fix a typo in a contract or reuse a report, the easiest route is to convert the PDF into a Word document. Here are three free ways to do it, starting with the one that keeps your layout best.
Method 1: Use PDFJig (keeps tables and layout)
PDFJig's PDF to Word converter rebuilds your PDF as a DOCX file with tables, columns and images in place, so it looks like the original but every line is editable.
- Open PDFJig's PDF to Word tool.
- Choose your PDF or drop it on the page.
- Keep "Best layout" selected. Use "Exact look" only for scans you don't need to edit.
- Click Convert to Word and download the DOCX file.
- Open it in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice or Pages.
Method 2: Open the PDF directly in Microsoft Word
If you have Word 2013 or later, it can convert PDFs by itself.
- In Word, choose File, then Open.
- Select your PDF.
- Word warns that it will convert the PDF into an editable document. Click OK.
- Edit the document, then save it as a .docx file.
Word's conversion works well for simple text documents. Layouts with columns, text boxes, forms or many images can shift around, so check the result before you send it.
Method 3: Use Google Docs
- Upload the PDF to Google Drive.
- Right-click it and choose Open with, then Google Docs.
- Google Docs opens an editable copy. To get a Word file, choose File, Download, Microsoft Word (.docx).
Google Docs keeps the text but usually drops most of the formatting and images. It is fine for pulling words out of a PDF, less so for documents that need to look the same.
What about scanned PDFs?
A scanned PDF is a picture of a page, so there is no text for a converter to find. Run it through OCR (optical character recognition) first. PDFJig's OCR PDF tool adds a searchable text layer, and the result then converts to Word like any other PDF.
Make a scanned PDF searchable →
Tips for a clean conversion
- Start from the original PDF, not a printed-and-scanned copy, whenever you can.
- If the PDF is password protected, unlock it first with the password.
- Check headers, footers and tables after converting; these are the parts most likely to move.
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert a PDF to Word for free?
Yes. PDFJig, Microsoft Word (if you already own it) and Google Docs all convert PDFs to Word at no cost.
Why does my converted document look different?
PDFs place every element at an exact position, while Word flows text across pages. Converters rebuild that flow, so complex layouts can shift. PDFJig's Best layout option keeps them closest to the original.
Can I convert a PDF to Word on my phone?
Yes. PDFJig works in the browser on iPhone and Android. Download the DOCX and open it in the Word app or Google Docs.