Quickly convert PDF to Word documents on your MacBook for free without messing up formatting. No registration and no installation needed.
PDF is the undisputed king of electronic files; millions of these files are converted and modified on our site every month. They're light and all-around great for both sharing and storage. But they are difficult to edit without the right tools
There may come a time when you need to make changes to the content of your PDF file. With typical free PDF programs, editing is out of the question. That's where Smallpdf comes in. In this guide, we'll show you how to convert a PDF to a Word document without new software.
How to Convert a PDF to Word on Mac Online
Converting a PDF to Word on your Mac takes just seconds with Smallpdf's free online tool. Our browser-based converter handles the heavy lifting in the cloud, so you don't need to download any software. 1. Go to the PDF to Word converter. 2. Drag your PDF into the toolbox or click to select it from your computer. 3. Choose “Convert selectable text” for regular PDFs. 4. Wait for us to convert your file to DOCX format. 5. Click download, and you're good to go!
Easy conversion from PDF to Word on MacBook online
As you can see, there are two options available during the conversion: “Convert selectable text” and “Convert text from scans.” The first is our free option, available to all. It's perfect for regular PDFs and transfers the content from one format to another. The latter is a pro feature with OCR. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) detects letters in scans and photos and creates an editable Word document from scratch. If you want to give OCR a try for free, check out our Smallpdf Pro 7-day free trial. It'll open the doors to many other Pro features and benefits, such as higher upload and processing speeds, and limitless usage of our tools online.
Convert a PDF to Word on Mac with Preview
Preview, Mac's built-in PDF viewer, offers a basic way to extract text from PDFs. This method works best for text-heavy PDFs without complex formatting—think simple documents rather than fancy brochures. 1. Open your PDF file in Preview (it's usually the default). 2. Press Cmd + A to select all text. 3. Copy the text with Cmd + C. 4. Open Microsoft Word and paste with Cmd + V. 5. Save your new Word document.
Keep in mind that Preview only extracts plain text, so you'll lose images, tables, and fancy formatting. For better results with complex documents, stick with our online converter above!
Convert a PDF to Word on Mac Using Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word for Mac can open and convert PDFs directly using its PDF Reflow technology. Word will attempt to preserve the layout, though complex PDFs will need some adjustments afterward. 1. Open Microsoft Word on your Mac. 2. Go to File > Open and select your PDF file. 3. Word will show a warning about converting the PDF—click “OK” to proceed. 4. Wait for Word to reflow the PDF content into an editable document. 5. Go to File > Save As and choose “Word Document (.docx)” format.
This method works best with text-based PDFs. Scanned documents or PDFs with complex layouts might not convert perfectly, but it's a solid option when you already have Word installed.
Other Ways to Convert PDF to Word on Mac
Need more options? Here are a couple of alternative methods that might work for your specific situation.
Convert a PDF to Word on Mac with Google Docs
Google's free office suite can handle basic PDF to Word conversions through your browser. 1. Go to Google Drive and upload your PDF. 2. Right-click the uploaded PDF and select “Open with > Google Docs”. 3. Google Docs will convert the PDF into an editable document. 4. Go to File > Download > Microsoft Word (.docx) to save it as a Word file.
Start Your Free Trial to Access All Smallpdf Tools
Ready to convert PDFs faster with OCR and batch processing? Our Pro plan unlocks advanced features like converting scanned documents, processing multiple files at once, and faster conversion speeds. Start your free trial to unlock all Smallpdf Pro features for Mac—no commitment required!
Frequently Asked Questions About PDF to Word on Mac
How Do I Convert a PDF to Word Without Losing the Formatting?
Use our online converter for the best formatting retention. Preview and basic converters only extract plain text, losing images and layout.
What Software Do I Need to Convert from PDF to Word?
None! Our browser-based tool works on any Mac with an internet connection. No downloads or installations required.
Will My Converted Word Document Be Secure?
Absolutely. We use 256-bit SSL encryption and automatically delete your files from our servers after conversion.
Can I Convert Scanned PDFs to Word on Mac?
Yes, but you'll need OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology. Our Pro plan includes advanced OCR for scanned documents and images.
What's the File Size Limit for PDF to Word Conversion?
Smallpdf supports most large PDF files for conversion without issue. Free users can convert up to two files per day, while Pro users enjoy unlimited conversions and batch processing for faster workflows.
Related Smallpdf Tools for Mac
Make the most of your PDF workflow with these complementary tools:
- PDF OCR - Extract text from scanned documents and images
- Compress PDF - Reduce file sizes without losing quality
- Merge PDF - Combine multiple PDFs into one document
- Split PDF - Separate large PDFs into smaller files
