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DOCX to PDF–Convert Word Files to PDF Online for Free

by Hung Nguyen

You can also read this article in German, Spanish, French, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Vietnamese.

Quickly convert DOCX to PDF without Word, watermarks, or file limits— just a fast, easy way to share your documents exactly how you want them.

Turn your Microsoft Word files into PDFs within seconds to protect their contents from editing. One way to do this is to use the “Save as PDF” functionality native to Microsoft Word. This is nice and easy, so long as you actually have Microsoft Office and the file isn’t a nuisance to load due to its size. With our tool, none of that has to matter. We help you convert your DOCX to PDF quickly, free of charge, and without annoying watermarks.

How To Convert DOCX to PDF With Smallpdf

  1. Go to the Smallpdf DOCX to PDF Converter.

  2. Drag and drop your file into the toolbox.

  3. Wait for the tool to convert your DOCX file to PDF.

  4. Download your PDF file.

Nothing to converting a DOCX file to PDF in a single step

Nothing to converting a DOCX file to PDF in a single step

Our tool uses the same process Microsoft Word does when saving a DOCX as a PDF. When you drag and drop your file into our tool, we just take that work off your hands.

If you’re out of the office frequently, download the free Smallpdf Mobile App to convert DOCX files from your phone, wherever you are.

Why Convert DOCX to PDF?

Converting your DOCX file to PDF helps to keep your document looking the same, making it easier to share, print, or archive without unexpected changes. PDF files work on all devices and operating systems, and they’re harder to edit than a plain Word document. So, they’re perfect for things like contracts, applications, reports, and coursework.

No Word? No Worries

With this tool, you can convert DOCs to PDF without Microsoft Word installed. It all happens in your browser—no software, no fuss. So, you can convert DOCX files on any device. This is especially handy if you’re using a shared computer or a mobile device that doesn’t support Office apps.

What To Do If Something Looks Off

We try to keep your fonts, layout, and spacing the same. But document formatting can still shift slightly depending on how the DOCX was created. If you run into issues:

  • Before uploading, check that your fonts are embedded in the DOCX file. This is an important step if you’re using non-standard fonts.
  • If you end up with a chunky document, try compressing the PDF using our Compress PDF tool after conversion.

These quick fixes help your PDF look just right without bloating the file.

We’ve Got Your Back on Security

If you’re worried about privacy and your data, rest assured: We use secure TLS encryption, and any file uploaded to our servers is automatically deleted one hour after processing. We keep the file for an hour so you can process it further with our many other tools.

You can also share it with friends, family, or co-workers via email or even create a downloadable URL for others to access within a given timeframe. Apart from these options, your file isn’t accessible to anyone but you.

What Else Can You Do With Your PDF?

The PDF format is much more versatile than other file formats such as .docx, vector graphics, or spreadsheets. PDFs work on most operating systems, and their content can’t be edited easily. And they’re not dead ends. Whenever you receive a PDF, you can always convert it to a different file format or edit it using our suite of free PDF tools. Here’s a list of just some of the things you can do to enhance your PDF:

  • Translate - Translate a summary of your PDF files with our PDF Translator.
  • Protect - Add an encrypted, super-secure password to your documents.
  • Edit - Turn read-only or scanned PDFs into editable documents with OCR.

Make It Accessible

If you’re sharing a document with others—especially in school or at work—make it easy for everyone to read. Use headings, clear titles, and alt text for images in your DOCX file. These help screen readers follow your document once it’s converted to PDF. Word’s status bar will show if there’s anything to fix.

DOC to PDF Questions and Answers

Will my formatting stay exactly the same after conversion?

Most of the time, yes. Our converter is designed to keep the structure, fonts, and layout of your DOCX file. Minor layout changes can happen (especially if fonts weren’t embedded) but that’s easy to fix. Embedding fonts in Word before converting usually helps you avoid this.

Can I convert the PDF back to DOCX if I need to edit it later?

Absolutely. Turning PDFs into DOCX files is one of our specialties. You can use the PDF to Word tool to change your file back to its original formatting and file type—without losing quality. Even if you never had the original Word file to begin with, we can turn any PDF into an editable Word document for you.

Is there a file size limit?

Not really. You probably shouldn't be trying to convert anything over 100 MB, but we still give you plenty of room for most documents. Whether it’s a one-page resume or a lengthy report with embedded graphics, you can probably upload from Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or your device, and convert it easily.

Is this tool really free to use?

All of Smallpdf’s tools are free to use—with a free daily task limit. Besides converting DOCXs to PDFs, we can also save your files to JPEG, Excel, and PPT formats and convert older Word files, such as the legacy.doc format. We can do pretty much anything you can imagine—as long as it somehow involves the PDF format, even if it’s just a bridge format.

Plus, you can enhance your PDF files however you like. For example, you can delete pages, split up large documents, and combine them—the sky’s the limit! If you work extensively with documents and need unlimited access, you can try Smallpdf Pro—we offer a 7-day free trial, so you can test all our tools to your heart’s content. You’ll also get access to Pro-exclusive perks, such as batch processing, file storage, and the offline Smallpdf Desktop App, which is fantastic for working on the go where you may not have reliable access to the Internet!

How secure is this process?

Your files are encrypted during transfer, and we delete them automatically after one hour. If you need to store files longer or access them from multiple devices, logging into your account will allow you to save them securely in your workspace.

With Smallpdf, converting DOCX to PDF is fast, simple, and safe. Whether you’re wrapping up an assignment, formatting an invoice, or saving a contract. Give it a try—your DOCX deserves better than copy-paste formatting struggles.

Hung Nguyen
Hung Nguyen
Senior Growth Marketing Manager @Smallpdf