How to Open a PDF File in Microsoft Word

You can open a PDF directly in Word, but the result depends on how the PDF was made

Microsoft Word can open PDF files natively — you do not need a separate program. When you open a PDF in Word, the software converts it to an editable document. The quality of that conversion varies. PDFs created from text (like a scanned document saved as PDF) convert cleanly. PDFs built from images or with complex layouts often convert poorly, with text in the wrong places or graphics misaligned.

If you only need to read the PDF, opening it in Word is unnecessary — use a free PDF reader instead. If you need to edit it, Word's conversion works best on simple, text-based PDFs. For complex documents, you may want to use Word's built-in tools to mark up the PDF without converting it.

Key Takeaways

• Word converts PDFs to editable documents when you open them, but the conversion quality depends on how the PDF was originally created.
• Simple text-based PDFs convert cleanly in Word; PDFs with images, tables, or unusual layouts often have formatting problems after conversion.
• You can open a PDF in Word by using File > Open and selecting the PDF file, or by right-clicking the PDF and choosing "Open with" > Word.
• If you only need to view or mark up a PDF without editing it, Word's review tools let you add comments without converting the file.

Opening a PDF in Word on Windows

Start Word and go to File in the top left. Click Open. In the dialog box, navigate to the folder where your PDF is stored. At the bottom of the dialog, you will see a dropdown that says "All Word Documents" or similar. Click that dropdown and select All Files or PDF Files so the PDF appears in the list. Click the PDF file and then click Open.

Word will display a message asking if you want to convert the PDF. Click OK to proceed. The conversion takes a few seconds. Once complete, the PDF opens as an editable Word document. The file remains a .pdf file on your computer — Word does not automatically save it as a .docx file unless you choose to do so.

An alternative method: find the PDF file on your computer, right-click it, hover over Open with, and select Microsoft Word from the list. This skips the File > Open dialog and opens the PDF directly.

Opening a PDF in Word on Mac

Open Word and click File in the menu bar. Select Open. In the file browser, navigate to your PDF. If the PDF does not appear, click the dropdown at the bottom that says "Word Documents" and change it to All Files. Select the PDF and click Open.

Word will ask if you want to convert the PDF. Click Convert. The process takes a few seconds, and the PDF opens as an editable document in Word. As on Windows, the original file remains a PDF unless you save it as a Word document.

You can also find the PDF in Finder, right-click it, select Open With, and choose Microsoft Word.

What happens to your PDF when Word converts it

Word's conversion process reads the PDF and rebuilds it as a Word document. Text usually converts accurately. Images stay in place. But formatting often shifts. Columns may collapse into a single column. Tables may lose their structure. Text boxes may move. Fonts may change if Word does not have the original font installed on your computer.

The more complex the PDF, the worse the conversion. A simple one-page letter converts nearly perfectly. A multi-column newsletter with images and text boxes often looks broken. A PDF made from scanned images (where the entire page is one image) cannot be edited at all — Word treats it as a picture.

After conversion, you can fix formatting manually by adjusting margins, moving text, resizing images, and reformatting tables. This takes time on complex documents. For a one-time read or light edit, it may be faster to use a PDF reader or editor instead.

Saving your converted PDF as a Word document

Once the PDF is open in Word, you can save it as a .docx file. Click File and then Save As. Choose a location and a filename. At the bottom, you will see a dropdown showing the file format — it likely says "Word Document (.docx)". Leave it as is or change it if needed. Click Save.

You now have two files: the original PDF and a new Word document. Editing the Word document does not change the PDF. If you want to keep only the Word version, you can delete the PDF file afterward.

Marking up a PDF without converting it

If you only need to add comments, highlights, or notes to a PDF without editing the text, you do not need to convert it. Word lets you open a PDF in read-only mode and add markup. Open the PDF as described above, but instead of clicking OK to convert, look for an option to open it as a PDF (this varies by Word version). You can then use Word's Review tab to add comments, highlight text, and draw shapes directly on the PDF.

This approach preserves the PDF's original formatting and is faster than converting and re-editing. The markup stays attached to the PDF file when you save it. Other people can open the same PDF and see your comments.

When to use Word versus a PDF reader

Use Word to open a PDF when you need to edit the text or restructure the content. Use a PDF reader (like Adobe Reader, which is free, or your web browser) when you only need to view, print, or add comments. Use a dedicated PDF editor when you need to edit the PDF without converting it to Word format — these preserve the original layout better than Word's conversion.

Word's conversion is free and built in, so it is convenient for simple documents. But if the PDF is complex or the conversion looks wrong, a PDF editor or reader may be a better choice. Test the conversion on a small section first if you are unsure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my PDF look wrong after Word converts it?

Word rebuilds the PDF from scratch, and complex layouts do not always translate. Columns collapse, images shift, and tables break. This is especially common in PDFs with multiple columns, text boxes, or unusual fonts. Simple text-based PDFs convert much more cleanly.

Can I edit a PDF that is just an image?

No. If the PDF is a scanned document or a photograph, Word treats the entire page as a single image and cannot extract or edit the text. You would need optical character recognition (OCR) software to convert the image to editable text first.

Does opening a PDF in Word change the original file?

No. Opening a PDF in Word does not modify the original PDF file. Word creates a temporary converted version in memory. If you want to keep the edited version, you must save it as a new Word document.

What is the difference between converting a PDF and marking it up?

Converting rebuilds the PDF as an editable Word document, which changes the layout and lets you edit text freely. Marking up adds comments and highlights to the PDF without changing its structure, preserving the original formatting.

Can I convert a PDF back to its original format after editing it in Word?

You can save the Word document as a PDF again, but it will not be identical to the original. The new PDF will reflect any changes you made in Word and may have different formatting. If you need the exact original, keep a copy of the original PDF file.