Convert and compress / Step-by-step guide

PDF to Word, step by step

Recover an editable copy and check what matters.

Reviewed on September 23, 20263 steps · 1 min read

At a glance

Convert your PDF into a DOCX to keep working in Word. The original is preserved; the copy may need adjustments, especially with tables, columns or scanned pages.

Before you start

Have the original PDF ready. Try selecting a sentence: if the entire page behaves like an image, check the OCR option.

Actual Folio interface with a sample document. PDF to Word, step by step — Actual Folio interface with a sample document. View full screenshot ↗

Select your PDF

Open PDF to Word and select your file. Browse the preview to check that you chose the right document and that its pages are complete.

Review the options

The output is DOCX. Review Preserve original formatting and Use OCR for your document. If Folio detects a possible scan, use the prompt to choose how to process it.

Convert and download

Select the PDF to Word action and wait for the result. Download the copy and open it in Word. Compare names, figures, images and tables with the PDF before editing or sharing.

If something does not go as expected

If the layout changes, first review complex sections and page breaks. If text from an image is missing, check whether OCR is needed. A PDF’s digital signature stays in the original, not in the DOCX.

Before you finish

Search for a sentence in Word and compare a table with the original.

NOW, YOUR DOCUMENT

Now you know where to start.

Open tool

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