Free online PDF to DOCX converter

Source format: PDF

PDF (Portable Document Format) is a fixed-layout document format designed to preserve the exact appearance of a page across devices and operating systems. It is widely used for reports, forms, manuals, invoices, ebooks, and print-ready documents. PDFs keep fonts, images, and layout consistent, but that fixed structure can make editing difficult.

Target format: DOCX

DOCX is the default document format used by Microsoft Word and many compatible editors. It is a reflowable, editable format that supports rich text formatting, tables, images, styles, and tracked changes. DOCX is ideal when you need to edit, revise, or reuse content from a PDF in a word processor.

How to convert PDF to DOCX

The best method depends on whether your PDF contains real text or is a scanned image.

1. Check the PDF type. If you can select and copy text in the PDF viewer, it likely contains searchable text. If not, it may be a scan and require OCR.
2. Use Microsoft Word for a quick conversion. Open Word, then choose File → Open and select the PDF. Word will convert the PDF into an editable document. Review the result, then save it as DOCX with File → Save As.
3. Use LibreOffice Writer as an alternative. Open the PDF in Writer, review the imported layout, then save it as .docx using File → Save As.
4. For scanned PDFs, use OCR first. If the PDF is image-based, run OCR in software such as Adobe Acrobat Pro, ABBYY FineReader, or another OCR-capable desktop app before exporting to DOCX. OCR converts the image text into editable text.
5. Use the built-in online converter on 101convert.com if you want a no-install option. Upload the PDF, click to convert, and download the converted file directly from the website.

Quality and limitations

PDF to DOCX conversion is not always perfect. Complex layouts, multi-column pages, text boxes, headers, footers, tables, and embedded fonts may not transfer exactly. The result is usually best when the PDF was originally created from a word processor and contains selectable text.

For scanned PDFs, conversion quality depends heavily on OCR accuracy, image resolution, and document clarity. Handwriting, skewed pages, low contrast, and decorative fonts can reduce accuracy. After conversion, always review the DOCX for spacing, line breaks, and formatting errors.

If the PDF is intended mainly for reading or printing, keeping it as PDF may be better. Convert to DOCX only when you need editable content.