Click Convert
TThe tool reads the PDF's existing text directly wherever the source has one, and switches to OCR automatically on any scanned or image-only page. You don't need to tell it which pages need OCR and which don't.
Download your .docx file:
It downloads with your original fonts, paragraph breaks, and table borders intact wherever the source PDF's structure allowed it.
What trips people up: PDFs built from heavily nested tables or multi-column magazine-style layouts sometimes reflow oddly once they hit Word. That's a limit of the Word format itself, not something OCR can fix. Standard single-column documents and simple tables convert cleanly almost every time.
What to Know Before You Convert
Output format
You get a modern .docx file that opens in Word, Google Docs, and LibreOffice. If you need the reverse (turning a Word file back into a PDF), Word to PDF does that.
Scanned vs. digital PDFs
If your PDF already has selectable text, conversion is close to instant and near-perfect. If it's a scan or a photo, the tool falls back to OCR automatically. Accuracy is very good on clean, typed pages and drops on low-resolution scans, tilted photos, or handwriting.
Password-protected files
Not supported directly right now. Strip the password first with Unlock PDF (it only takes a second), then upload the unlocked file here.
File size and page count
No limit. A single-page letter and a 300-page manual go through the same way.
What might not survive conversion
Complex multi-column layouts, deeply nested tables, and unusual embedded fonts are the things most likely to shift slightly in the Word version. Straightforward reports, letters, invoices, and single-column documents need the least cleanup afterward.
Privacy
Complex multi-column layouts, deeply nested tables, and unusual embedded fonts are the things most likely to shift slightly in the Word version. Straightforward reports, letters, invoices, and single-column documents need the least cleanup afterward.
FAQs
Does this work with scanned PDFs, or only PDFs that already have text?
Both. If the PDF has a text layer, conversion is fast and highly accurate. If it's a scan or a photo, OCR kicks in automatically on the pages that need it. You don't have to select anything.
Do I get a .doc or a .docx file?
.docx, the current Word format, also readable by Google Docs and LibreOffice without conversion.
Is there a file size or page limit?
No. Upload a two-page letter or a 300-page manual; both convert the same way, and the tool stays free either way.
How long do you keep my file, and is it secure?
It's uploaded over an encrypted (TLS) connection, converted on the server, and deleted automatically within about an hour. We don't retain a copy after that.
Can I convert a password-protected PDF?
Not directly yet. The upload will fail. Remove the password first with Unlock PDF, then upload the unlocked version here.
Will my tables and formatting survive the conversion?
Simple, single-column documents and standard tables come through cleanly. Multi-column layouts, deeply nested tables, and uncommon embedded fonts are the most likely things to shift slightly. Check the result before you send it anywhere important.
Will my tables and formatting survive the conversion?
Yes, you can queue multiple files and convert them in one batch instead of one at a time.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
No. It runs in your browser on any device: no account, no software, no watermark on the output.
I only need the plain text, not an editable Word document. Is there a faster option?
Yes. PDF to Text skips the formatting and table handling and just gives you the raw text.
Do the images in my PDF come through, or just the text?
Images carry over along with the text and layout. You're not just getting a text dump.
Can OCR read handwriting?
No. OCR is reliable on printed or typed text; handwriting recognition is a different technology, and accuracy on it is poor across every converter, not just this one. If your PDF is mostly handwritten notes, expect to clean up the result manually.
Can I edit the converted file on my phone?
Yes. It's a standard .docx file, so it opens directly in the Word or Google Docs mobile apps like any other Word document.
Is there an app or API version of this?
No. This is a browser-based tool. There's nothing to install and no separate app.
