How to Open a PDF in Word

Word can open many PDFs and turn them into editable documents. But the file may not look the same afterward. This commonly happens if it has scanned pages, complex tables, graphics, or unusual fonts. Here's how to follow both routes, plus a few fixes for when Word refuses to cooperate.

Yes, you can open a PDF in Word’s desktop app.

When you open a PDF, Word creates a copy and converts its contents into a format it can edit. The original PDF is not changed, so you can always return to it if the converted version needs too much cleanup.

This works best with PDFs that are mostly text, such as reports, letters, invoices, or simple agreements. A file with charts, images, columns, or scanned pages may need more work after it opens.

So, can Word open a PDF? Yes. But Word is converting the PDF into a Word document rather than editing the original file directly.

Here’s how to open a PDF file in Word using the desktop app:

1. Open Microsoft Word.

2. Select “File,” then “Open.”

3. Choose “Browse” and find the PDF on your device.

4. Select the PDF, then click “Open.”

5. Wait for Word to create the converted copy.

6. Review the document, then save it as a DOCX file before you begin editing.

That’s the most direct way for you to open a PDF in Word. Open the file through Word, accept the conversion message, and work on the new document Word creates.

Save the converted version with a different name from the original PDF. For example, use Project-Plan-Editable.docx rather than overwriting or renaming the source file. It makes your files easier to identify later.

PDFs are made to keep a fixed page layout. Word documents are built for editing, so text can move when you change a word, font, margin, or page size.

When Word converts a PDF, it must work out which parts of the page are headings, paragraphs, tables, images, and lists. It usually gets the general structure right, but some details can shift.

You may notice:

• Text wrapping differently around images or tables

• Fonts changing when the original font is unavailable

• Footnotes appearing in the main body text

• Columns turning into separate text blocks

• Charts or diagrams showing up as images instead of editable content

This is normal. Before you start editing, check the first page, last page, headings, tables, page breaks, and any section with fine-print text. It is much easier to fix layout issues before you make a long list of edits.

For files where formatting needs to stay close to the PDF, start with PDF to Word. It converts your file in the browser and gives you a DOCX to open in Word.

No PDF-to-Word conversion can promise an identical result for every file. But you can keep cleanup to a minimum by starting with a clear source PDF and checking the converted file before editing.

Smallpdf PDF to Word is useful when you want to convert a PDF into an editable Word document without opening the PDF in Word first.

• Open PDF to Word.

• Drag and drop your PDF into the upload area or select “Choose Files.”

• If the PDF is scanned, choose the OCR option so the text becomes editable.

• Click “Convert.”

• Download the DOCX file.

• Open the downloaded file in Word and check the formatting.

PDF to Word works in your browser. No installs. No sign-up to start.

After conversion, review the document before you send it on or make major changes. Check tables, text boxes, headers, footers, page numbering, and spacing around images. Complex files may still need a few small adjustments in Word.

If your PDF is a scan and you cannot select any text in it, OCR is the route to use. It reads the text from the image and puts it into the Word file as editable content.

For a more detailed look at scanned files, read How to Convert a Scanned PDF to Word Online.

Opening a PDF in Word converts it into editable content, while inserting a PDF adds it as an object, icon, or link within your document.

To insert a PDF:

1. Open your Word document.

2. Place your cursor where you want the PDF.

3. Go to “Insert” then choose “Object.”

4. Select “Create from File,” then browse for your PDF.

5. Choose to display it as an icon or link, then click “OK.”

This works well for attaching a PDF without changing its content. For more options and details, see our full guide on how to insert a PDF into Word.

A PDF that will not open in Word is usually damaged, password-protected, scanned, or too complex for Word to convert neatly.

Start with these checks:

• Open it through Word: Choose “File,” “Open,” and then “Browse” instead of double-clicking the PDF from a folder.

• Download a fresh copy: If the file came from an email, shared folder, or website, download it again before trying to open it.

• Check for a password: Ask the sender for the password or an unrestricted copy if Word asks for one.

• Test whether the text is selectable: If you cannot select words in a PDF reader, the file may be a scan. Use OCR through PDF to Word.

• Open the source file instead: If the PDF came from a Word document, spreadsheet, or presentation, use the original file where possible.

• Try PDF to Word: Upload the PDF to Smallpdf, convert it to DOCX, then open the downloaded Word file.

You may also see the file open as read-only or in Protected View. Word does this as a safety measure for files from the internet or locations it does not trust. Only enable editing after checking that the file came from a source you trust.