Word can open PDF files directly, but the result depends on how the PDF was made

Microsoft Word can open PDF files natively in recent versions (Word 2013 and later on Windows, Word 2016 and later on Mac). When you open a PDF in Word, the program converts it to an editable document. The conversion works well for simple PDFs with text and basic images, but complex layouts, scanned documents, or PDFs with special formatting often come out messy or unreadable.

The key thing to understand: Word is not designed to edit PDFs. It is designed to convert them into Word documents so you can work with the content. If you need to edit the PDF itself without changing its format, Word is not the right tool — you would use a PDF editor instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Word converts PDFs to editable documents, which works well for text-heavy PDFs but often scrambles complex layouts, scanned images, or special formatting.
  • On Windows, open Word, go to File > Open, and select your PDF file directly from the file browser.
  • On Mac, use File > Open and select the PDF, or drag the PDF onto the Word icon in your dock.
  • After Word converts the PDF, you may need to fix formatting, reposition images, or rebuild tables by hand.
  • If the PDF is a scanned image of a document, Word cannot convert it to editable text — you would need OCR software instead.

How to open a PDF in Word on Windows

Start by opening Microsoft Word. Click the File menu in the top left corner, then select Open. A file browser window will appear.

In the file browser, navigate to the folder where your PDF is stored. At the bottom right of the window, you will see a dropdown menu that says All Word Documents or similar. Click that dropdown and select All Files or PDF Files. This tells Word to show PDF files in the list, since by default it only shows Word documents.

Find your PDF file in the list, click it once to select it, then click the Open button. Word will now convert the PDF and open it as a new document. This may take a few seconds, especially for large files. A dialog box may appear asking if you want to convert the PDF — click OK to proceed.

How to open a PDF in Word on Mac

Open Microsoft Word. Click File in the menu bar at the top, then select Open. A file browser window will appear.

Navigate to the folder containing your PDF. You should see PDF files listed by default on Mac. Click your PDF file once to select it, then click the Open button. Word will convert and open the PDF as a new document.

Alternatively, you can drag and drop the PDF directly onto the Word icon in your dock. This opens the file in Word without using the File menu. This method is faster if you have Word already running.

What to expect after Word opens your PDF

Word will display the PDF content as a new, editable document. You can now edit the text, delete sections, add comments, or make other changes just as you would in a normal Word document. However, the formatting may not match the original PDF exactly.

Text might wrap differently, images could shift position, tables may break apart, and colors or fonts might change. Scanned PDFs (PDFs that are actually photographs of printed pages) will appear as images that you cannot edit as text. If the original PDF had a complex design, you may spend significant time fixing the layout by hand.

Once you have made your changes, save the file as a Word document (.docx) by going to File > Save As and choosing Word Document from the format dropdown. Do not save it as a PDF unless you want to convert it back to PDF format.

When Word cannot convert a PDF properly

Some PDFs will not convert well no matter what you do. Scanned documents (where the PDF is a picture of a page rather than actual text) cannot be edited as text in Word. Password-protected PDFs may not open at all. PDFs with embedded fonts, special graphics, or unusual layouts often come out with broken formatting.

If Word struggles with your PDF, you have a few options. For scanned documents, you would need OCR software (optical character recognition) to convert the image to editable text — Word does not have this built in. For password-protected PDFs, you need to remove the password first using a PDF tool. For complex layouts, you might be better off using a dedicated PDF editor or leaving the file in PDF format.

Alternatives to opening PDFs in Word

If you only need to read the PDF without editing it, use a free PDF reader like Adobe Acrobat Reader, your web browser, or the built-in PDF viewer on your computer. These programs display the PDF exactly as it was designed, without any conversion.

If you need to edit the PDF itself (keeping it in PDF format), use a PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat Pro, Nitro, or free online tools. These preserve the PDF structure and let you edit text, images, and formatting within the PDF itself.

If you need to extract text from a scanned PDF, use OCR software like Adobe Acrobat Pro, ABBYY FineReader, or free online OCR tools. These convert images of text into actual editable text.

Common problems when opening PDFs in Word

The PDF will not open at all. This usually means the PDF is password-protected. You need to remove the password using a PDF tool before Word can open it. Some PDFs are also corrupted and cannot be opened by any program — try opening it in a different PDF reader first to confirm it is not a Word problem.

The text looks garbled or the layout is completely wrong. This is normal for complex PDFs. Word did its best to convert the format, but the original design did not translate well. You can edit the text, but you may need to manually fix spacing, images, and tables. If this is too much work, consider using the PDF in its original format instead.

Images are missing or appear as blank boxes. Word sometimes has trouble embedding images from PDFs. The images are still there in the PDF, but Word could not convert them properly. You can delete the blank boxes and insert the images again manually if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open a PDF in Word on my phone or tablet?

Yes, Microsoft Word for iPhone, iPad, and Android can open PDFs. Use the same method: open Word, tap File, tap Open, navigate to your PDF, and tap it. The conversion works the same way as on desktop, though the smaller screen may make editing more difficult.

Will opening a PDF in Word change the original file?

No. Opening a PDF in Word creates a converted copy in Word format. The original PDF file stays exactly as it was. You only change the original if you deliberately save over it, which Word will not do automatically.

What is the difference between opening a PDF in Word and converting it?

There is no practical difference. When you open a PDF in Word, Word automatically converts it to a Word document format so you can edit it. The terms are used interchangeably.

Why does my PDF look different in Word than it did in my PDF reader?

Word converts the PDF to its own format, which means fonts, spacing, colors, and layout may shift. This is especially common with PDFs that have custom fonts or complex designs. The content is the same, but the appearance changes.

Can I open a PDF that is just a picture or scan?

Word can open it, but it will appear as an image you cannot edit as text. To convert a scanned PDF to editable text, you need OCR software, which Word does not have built in.