You have a PDF on your Mac and you need to change the words. Maybe it's a form, a letter or a report. A PDF isn't made for editing, so the easiest fix is to turn it into a Word file.
This guide shows two free ways, and a quick way with PDF to Word, which also reads scanned pages.
First: is your PDF real text or a scan?
Open the PDF in Preview and try to highlight one word.
- If it highlights, the PDF has real text. All the ways below can work.
- If you can only draw a box, the page is a scan (a photo of paper). Way 2 and Way 3 can still read it.
Way 1: Open it in Word (free if you have Word)
If you have Microsoft Word on your Mac, it can turn a PDF into a Word file.
- Open Word.
- Click File, then Open, and pick your PDF.
- Word says it will make a copy and change it into a Word file. Click OK.
- Check the layout, then click File and Save As to keep it as a Word file.
Your first PDF stays the same. This works best on PDFs that are mostly words. Pages with charts or scans may come in as one big picture you can't edit.
Way 2: Use Google Docs (free)
Google Docs can turn a PDF into a document, and it can read some scans too. You need a Google account, and your file goes into your Google Drive.
- Go to Google Drive in Safari or Chrome.
- Click New, then File upload, and pick your PDF.
- Right-click the PDF in Drive. Pick Open with, then Google Docs.
- Fix anything that moved.
- Click File, then Download, then Microsoft Word (.docx).
The catch: Google Docs often loses the layout. Pictures, tables and columns may move or go missing.
Way 3: Use PDF to Word (quick, scans too)
PDF to Word makes a Word file with headings, paragraphs, simple tables and pictures. It works in Safari, Chrome or any web browser on your Mac. There is nothing to install.
- Go to tools.ltd/pdf-to-word.
- Click Pick a PDF and choose your file.
- Press Make my Word file.
- Press Download.
- Open the file in Word, Pages or Google Docs.
If a page is a scan or a photo, PDF to Word reads the words on it for you. Your file never leaves your device. It is turned into Word right in your browser, so we never see it.
Check your Word file
Take a minute before you send or print it.
- Read the first page. Look for words that are joined together or split in odd places.
- Check names and numbers. These matter most, and a blurry scan can get them wrong.
- Look at tables and pictures. Fancy layouts may move a little.
Which way should I use?
| Your PDF | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Mostly words, and you have Word | Word |
| You already use Google Drive | Google Docs |
| A scan, or you want to keep the layout | PDF to Word |
| A table you need in Excel | Sheetsnap |
Frequently asked questions
Can Preview turn a PDF into Word?
No. Preview can show a PDF and let you copy words out of it, but it can't save a Word file. Use Word, Google Docs, or PDF to Word.
Can I open the Word file in Pages?
Yes. Pages, the free writing app on your Mac, can open Word files. Word and Google Docs can too.
Will it work on a scanned PDF?
PDF to Word reads the words on scanned pages for you. Check the result, since a blurry scan can have mistakes.
Is my PDF uploaded?
Not with PDF to Word. Your file never leaves your device. It is turned into Word right in your browser.
Related guides: PDF to Word: how to edit a PDF, even a scan · PDF to Excel on a Mac · More PDF to Word guides