Convert PDF to DOCX Online

Trying to edit a PDF in Word? It doesn’t work unless you convert it first. That’s why we built a way for you to upload any PDF and get a clean DOCX file in seconds.

No formatting mess, no copy-pasting. Just drag, convert, and download. Let’s walk you through how it works and why it saves you time.

How To Convert PDF to DOCX in a Few Steps

Here’s the quick way to turn your PDF into an editable DOCX:

1. Upload your PDF

Go to PDF to Word.

Drag your file in, or tap to upload from your device, Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. We support all standard PDFs, from digital forms to scanned receipts.

2. Use OCR for scanned documents

If your PDF is just an image—like a scanned document or photo—you’ll need text recognition to make it editable.

When you upload, choose the OCR option. That’ll let Smallpdf scan the file and pull real text out of the image, so you can edit it later.

OCR is part of the Pro plan, but you can try it for free with a 7-day trial. No pressure, just helpful if you're working with scanned content.

3. Convert and download

Click “Convert,” and the file will process. Once it’s done, download your new DOCX file.

Open it in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or any editor you like. The formatting, fonts, and images should look just like the original.

How To Convert Multiple PDFs at Once

If you're dealing with more than one PDF, you can still convert them. Just repeat the process for each file. It’s fast and free.

Want a smarter way? Merge your PDFs first:

• Go to Merge PDF
• Combine all your files into one
• Then convert that single PDF to DOCX

This gives you one document to work with, instead of five. Perfect if you're assembling reports, contracts, or invoices.

Why Use Smallpdf to Convert PDF to Word?

There are dozens of converters online. Here’s why ours stands out:

• Preserves formatting: Layout, spacing, columns, and fonts carry over
• Supports scanned files: OCR makes images into real, editable text
• Works everywhere: Mac, PC, Linux, iOS, Android—you name it
• Fast and secure: Uploads are encrypted, processed quickly, then deleted
• No install or signup: Everything runs in your browser

Real Tasks Made Easier

Here’s where this really comes in handy:

• Updating contracts: Edit terms in old PDF agreements without starting from scratch
• Repurposing content: Copy info from a PDF report into a new format
• Filling out scanned forms: Convert, edit, then re-export as PDF with changes
• Extracting tables: Use Excel to clean up data copied from converted DOCX files
• Translation or localization: Translate PDFs by converting them to Word first

Instead of retyping a document, just convert it and get straight to work.

Quick Tips Before You Convert

Want better results? Do this first:

• Use Edit PDF to remove marks or extras you don’t want
• Shrink large PDFs with Compress PDF to speed up uploads
• Only enable OCR for scanned files — it’s not needed for digital PDFs

And always check your DOCX after converting. Complex layouts may need light cleanup, especially if your PDF includes mixed columns or overlapping content.

FAQs

1. My DOCX is blank or won’t open. What now?

Check if your PDF was a scan. Try again with OCR turned on. It reads image-based text and makes the result editable.

2. The formatting is off. How do I fix it?

If the original file had tables or multi-column layouts, the DOCX might shift a bit. Open it in Word or Docs to clean up line breaks or spacing.

3. Can I convert a secured PDF?

Yes, but you’ll need to remove the password first. Go to Unlock PDF, then come back and run the conversion.

4. I need both text and images. Does this keep them?

Yes. We keep text, images, and layout together. Your DOCX will include both unless the file was heavily flattened.

5. Do I need Word installed to open the DOCX?

Not at all. You can use Google Docs, LibreOffice, or any editor that supports .docx files, even on mobile.