Learning how to open a PDF in Word is useful when you need to edit text, update an old document, reuse information, or turn a fixed PDF into an editable Microsoft Word document.
Microsoft Word can open many PDF files directly and convert their contents into an editable document. However, the result depends on how the original PDF was created. Simple text-based PDFs usually work better than scanned files or documents containing complex tables, graphics, columns, and unusual layouts.
In this guide, you'll learn four practical ways to open a PDF in Word, what happens during the conversion process, and how to fix common formatting problems.
Quick Answer: How to Open a PDF in Word
To open a PDF directly in Microsoft Word:
Open Microsoft Word.
Select File → Open.
Browse to the PDF on your computer.
Select the PDF and click Open.
Word will tell you that it will convert the PDF into an editable document.
Confirm the conversion.
Review the document and save it as a DOCX file.
This works particularly well for PDFs that mainly contain text.
If Word doesn't open or convert your document properly, you can use the OneFileKit PDF to Word Converter to create an editable DOCX file first.
What Happens When You Open a PDF in Microsoft Word?
A PDF and a Word document are built for different purposes.
PDF files are primarily designed to preserve how a document looks. Text, images, tables, and other elements remain positioned consistently across devices.
Word documents are designed for editing.
When you open a PDF in Word, Microsoft Word doesn't simply display the original PDF as an editable file. Instead, it creates a copy and attempts to reconstruct the PDF's contents as Word document elements.
This can include:
Text and paragraphs
Headings
Images
Tables
Lists
Page breaks
Headers and footers
Basic formatting
Your original PDF normally remains unchanged.
Because Word has to reconstruct the document, the converted version may not look exactly like the original PDF.
Method 1: Open a PDF Directly in Microsoft Word
For many text-based PDFs, this is the easiest method.
Step 1: Open Microsoft Word
Launch Microsoft Word on your Windows PC or Mac.
You don't need to create a new document first.
Step 2: Select the PDF
Go to:
File → Open → Browse
Locate the PDF you want to open.
Select it and click Open.
Step 3: Confirm the Conversion
Word may display a message explaining that it will convert the PDF into an editable Word document.
Continue with the conversion.
The process can take longer for large or complicated PDFs.
Step 4: Review the Document
Once the PDF opens, review:
Text
Fonts
Headings
Images
Tables
Columns
Page breaks
Headers and footers
Simple documents may require little or no correction.
Complex PDFs may need manual formatting adjustments.
Step 5: Save It as a Word Document
After reviewing the converted file, select:
File → Save As
Choose:
Word Document (.docx)
and save the new document.
This gives you an editable Word version while preserving the original PDF separately.
Method 2: Open a PDF in Word Using “Open With”
Another convenient method is to start from the PDF itself instead of opening Microsoft Word first.
On Windows
Locate the PDF in File Explorer.
Right-click the file and select:
Open with → Microsoft Word
If Word isn't displayed immediately, choose the option to select another application and find Microsoft Word.
Word will then attempt to convert the PDF into an editable document.
On Mac
The exact options available can vary depending on your macOS and Microsoft Word versions.
You can usually open Word first and use File → Open if Word isn't available from the PDF's contextual menu.
When is this method useful?
Use Open With when:
You already have the PDF visible in your files.
You don't want to open Word first.
You regularly work with PDFs and Word documents.
The PDF contains primarily text.
The conversion itself is essentially serving the same purpose: Word reconstructs the PDF as editable document content.
Method 3: Convert the PDF to Word Online
Sometimes Word doesn't reproduce a PDF the way you need, or you may be using a device without Microsoft Word installed.
In that case, convert the PDF to DOCX first.
Step 1: Open OneFileKit
Go to the OneFileKit PDF to Word Converter.
Step 2: Upload Your PDF
Choose the PDF from your device or drag and drop it into the upload area.
Step 3: Convert PDF to Word
Start the conversion.
OneFileKit processes the PDF and creates an editable Word DOCX document.
Step 4: Download the DOCX
Download the converted Word file to your device.
You can then open the DOCX in Microsoft Word or another compatible word processor.
Why use this method?
An online converter can be useful when:
Microsoft Word isn't installed.
Word doesn't open the PDF correctly.
You want a DOCX file before opening the document.
You're working through a browser.
You want a straightforward PDF-to-Word workflow.
Method 4: Open a Scanned PDF in Word Using OCR
Scanned PDFs require special consideration.
A normal digital PDF may contain actual text that software can recognize directly.
A scanned PDF may instead contain images of text.
For example, if you scan a printed contract, the resulting PDF can visually contain hundreds of words while technically consisting of page images.
Microsoft Word may therefore have difficulty turning the content into useful editable text.
What Is OCR?
OCR stands for Optical Character Recognition.
OCR analyzes text contained within images and attempts to convert it into machine-readable text.
This is useful for:
Scanned contracts
Printed letters
Receipts
Forms
Old documents
Scanned reports
Image-based PDFs
How to Handle a Scanned PDF
First, try selecting individual words in the PDF.
If you can highlight normal text, the document probably contains a text layer.
If the entire page behaves like one large image, OCR may be necessary.
You can use the OneFileKit PDF OCR tool when text recognition is required.
After OCR processing, review the recognized text carefully before relying on it. Scan quality, unusual fonts, handwriting, page rotation, and low-resolution images can affect OCR accuracy.
Why Does a PDF Look Different When Opened in Word?
One of the most common PDF-to-Word problems is formatting changes.
This happens because PDF and DOCX represent documents differently.
A PDF focuses on maintaining a fixed visual layout.
A Word document allows content to move and reflow as you edit it.
Word therefore has to interpret the PDF and recreate its layout.
Elements That May Change
Fonts
If a font used by the PDF isn't available on your computer, Word may substitute another font.
That can affect line breaks, spacing, and page layout.
Tables
Complicated tables can be difficult to reconstruct accurately.
Check:
Column widths
Borders
Cell alignment
Merged cells
Text wrapping
Images
Images may move or use different text-wrapping settings after conversion.
Columns
Multi-column documents such as newsletters, reports, and academic papers can require additional cleanup.
Page Breaks
Small changes to fonts, margins, or spacing can move content onto different pages.
Headers and Footers
Headers, footers, and page numbers may not always convert exactly as expected.
How to Open a PDF in Word Without Losing Formatting
No method can guarantee identical results for every PDF, but several practices can improve conversion quality.
Start With the Original PDF
Use the highest-quality version available.
Repeatedly converting documents between PDF, images, and Word can make reconstruction more difficult.
Use Text-Based PDFs
Digitally generated PDFs generally convert more predictably than low-quality scanned documents.
Check Whether Fonts Are Available
Missing fonts can significantly affect the final layout.
Review Tables and Images
Don't assume a document is perfect just because the text converted successfully.
Check visual elements carefully.
Compare the Word File With the PDF
Keep the original PDF open while reviewing the converted Word document.
Compare important:
Numbers
Tables
Headings
Images
Page structure
Footnotes
Dates
This is particularly important for business, academic, financial, or legal documents.
Can You Edit a PDF After Opening It in Word?
Yes, in many cases.
When Word successfully converts a PDF, the resulting document can contain editable:
Paragraphs
Headings
Lists
Tables
Text formatting
However, Word is editing its converted copy, not changing the original PDF directly.
After making your changes, you can save the document as DOCX.
If you need another PDF afterward, Word can also save or export the edited document back to PDF.
Opening a PDF in Word vs Inserting a PDF Into Word
These two actions sound similar but have different purposes.
Opening a PDF in Word means Word attempts to convert the PDF content into an editable document.
Inserting a PDF into Word usually means adding the PDF to an existing Word document as an object, icon, image, or other embedded content.
For example:
Need to edit an existing PDF?
Open or convert it.
Need to attach a PDF to a report?
Insert or embed it.
For the second workflow, read our guide:
How to Insert PDF Into Word: 5 Easy Methods
This distinction also prevents our two articles from competing for exactly the same search intent.
Opening a PDF vs Converting PDF to Word
Opening a PDF directly in Word actually involves a conversion process behind the scenes.
The main difference is the workflow.
MethodBest ForOpen PDF directly in WordSimple text-based PDFsOpen With Microsoft WordQuick desktop workflowPDF-to-Word converterCreating a DOCX directlyOCR + conversionScanned/image-based PDFs
If Word handles your PDF correctly, there's no need to make the process complicated.
If it doesn't, converting the PDF separately can give you another option.
What If Word Won't Open the PDF?
If your PDF doesn't open correctly, check these common causes.
The PDF Is Damaged
Try opening the PDF in a normal PDF reader or browser.
If it doesn't open there either, the file itself may be corrupted.
The PDF Is Password Protected
Some PDFs have restrictions that prevent certain actions.
Only remove restrictions when you own the document or have authorization to modify it.
The File Is Very Large
Large documents containing many high-resolution images can take longer to process.
If file size is causing problems, you can consider using OneFileKit Compress PDF before continuing, where appropriate.
The PDF Is Scanned
Image-based documents may require OCR before their text becomes properly editable.
The Layout Is Too Complex
Highly designed documents can contain elements that don't translate cleanly into Word's editable structure.
In those cases, expect some manual cleanup.
Can You Open a PDF in Word on Mac?
Yes, compatible versions of Microsoft Word for Mac can work with PDF files, although exact menus and features can vary by Word version.
A typical approach is:
Open Microsoft Word.
Select File → Open.
Choose the PDF.
Allow Word to process the document.
Review the converted content.
Save it as DOCX.
We'll cover the Mac-specific workflow in greater detail in a dedicated guide because PDF-to-Word on Mac has its own search intent and keyword opportunity.
Can You Open a PDF in Word on a Phone?
Mobile versions of Word don't necessarily provide the same PDF conversion workflow as desktop Word.
If you're working from an iPhone, iPad, or Android device, a browser-based converter can be more convenient.
You can convert the PDF to DOCX first and then open the resulting Word document in a compatible mobile application.
The exact workflow depends on your device, browser, and installed applications.
Is It Safe to Open or Convert a PDF?
For local conversion in Microsoft Word, the document is processed through the software on your device.
When using an online converter, consider how the service handles uploaded documents.
Before uploading sensitive files, check:
Whether files are publicly accessible
How long files are retained
Whether generated downloads are protected
Whether the service explains its file-handling practices
For OneFileKit, uploaded PDF and generated DOCX files are automatically removed according to the retention policy stated on the PDF to Word converter page.
Avoid uploading highly sensitive documents to any online service unless its security and privacy practices meet your requirements.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to open a PDF in Word gives you several options when a fixed PDF needs to become editable.
For a simple text-based PDF, opening the file directly in Microsoft Word may be enough. Word will attempt to reconstruct the PDF as an editable document that you can save as DOCX.
If Word doesn't handle the document correctly, use the OneFileKit PDF to Word Converter to create an editable Word file first.
For scanned PDFs, OCR may be required before the text can be recognized properly.
Whichever method you choose, always compare important documents with the original PDF after conversion—particularly when they contain complex tables, images, columns, or specialized formatting.
