Pick the mode that matches your goal
The result you want decides the mode, so decide before you convert:
| Visual pages | Editable text | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Keeping the exact look of the page | Searching, copying and editing the content in Word |
| Text | Not editable: each page is an image | Editable paragraphs and headings |
| Layout | Identical to the PDF | Rebuilt from lines of text; complex layouts change |
| Images | Included, as part of the page image | Not carried over |
| Scanned PDFs | Works: it is already an image | Reports that no text was found |
How to convert PDF to Word
- Open PDF to Word and add your PDF.
- Choose Visual pages or Editable text.
- Convert and download the
.docxfile. - Open it in Word and compare it with the PDF using the checklist below.
What changes in Editable text mode
PDF files record the position of each piece of text, not paragraphs, columns or tables. To make something editable, the converter groups text into lines and then paragraphs. Text that is noticeably larger than the body text becomes a bold heading, with the largest sizes turned into top-level headings. The text is set in a standard font, so the original typeface does not carry over.
Three things are not rebuilt: tables (their cells arrive as lines of text), multi-column layouts (text from side-by-side columns that share a baseline ends up on the same line, so check the reading order), and images. If the document is mostly a table, converting it to Excel will keep far more structure.
Scanned PDFs and photos of documents
A scan is a picture of a page with no text in it, and FreePDFKit does not run OCR (text recognition). In Editable text mode you will see a message that no text was found. You have two options: convert with Visual pages to keep the look of the scan inside Word, or run OCR in a dedicated tool first and then convert the text-based PDF it produces.
Check the Word file before you share it
- Headings: are the right lines marked as headings, and the rest body text?
- Tables and columns: rebuild them in Word, then compare the numbers with the PDF.
- Page breaks and page numbers: the Word pagination can differ from the PDF.
- Special characters, accents and symbols: scan the text for anything that looks wrong.
- Missing images: re-insert them from the original if you used Editable text.
Before you convert
If the PDF asks for a password, use Unlock PDF first. If you only need a few pages, split the PDF or delete the pages you do not need before converting, so there is less to clean up afterwards. For a general look at when a browser-based converter is the right choice, see the private PDF tools guide.
People also ask
Common questions
Can I convert a scanned PDF to editable Word text?
Not with FreePDFKit: it does not do OCR. A scan is a picture of text, so Editable text mode reports that no text was found. Use Visual pages to keep the look of the scan in Word, or run OCR in another tool first and convert the result.
Why do my tables and columns look different in Word?
Editable text mode rebuilds lines of text as paragraphs. It does not rebuild tables as Word tables or multi-column layouts as columns, and text from neighboring columns can end up on the same line, so expect to reformat those. For tables, PDF to Excel is usually the better route.
Are images kept when I convert PDF to Word?
In Visual pages mode, yes: every page, images included, is placed into Word as a picture. In Editable text mode only text is carried over, so images are not.
Which fonts will the Word file use?
Editable text mode sets the text in a standard font rather than the original typeface, with larger text turned into headings. Visual pages mode shows the original fonts because it is an image of the page.
Can I convert a password-protected PDF to Word?
Remove the password first with Unlock PDF (you need to know it), then convert the unlocked copy.
How large can the PDF be?
Up to 25 MB. Conversions to and from Word, Excel and PowerPoint have a lower limit than other tools because they use more browser memory.
Is my PDF uploaded when I convert it?
No. The conversion runs in your browser tab, so the file stays on your device.