How to convert Word to PDF
- Drop a
.docxfile onto the upload area, or click it to choose a document from your device. - Click Convert to PDF. The document is read, laid out and turned into PDF pages.
- Download the PDF and check it before you send it on.
The whole conversion runs in your browser. Your document is not uploaded to a server or stored anywhere, so you can safely convert contracts, CVs, invoices and other confidential files.
Why convert a Word document to PDF?
A Word file is meant to be edited, so it can look different depending on the program, version and fonts installed on the computer that opens it. A PDF is a fixed-layout format: it looks the same on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, and opens in every web browser without Microsoft Office. That makes PDF the standard choice when you want to:
- Send a final version of a CV, cover letter, quote or report that the recipient should read, not edit.
- Submit documents to job portals, universities and government websites, many of which accept only PDF.
- Print reliably, because pages break in the same places on every printer.
- Archive documents in a format that will still open in many years.
What is kept and what may change
The converter reads the content of your .docx file and rebuilds it as PDF pages. The following elements are kept:
| Element | Result in the PDF |
|---|---|
| Paragraphs and body text | Kept |
| Headings (Heading 1, 2, 3 …) | Kept as headings |
| Bulleted and numbered lists | Kept |
| Tables | Kept |
| Embedded images | Kept |
| Exact fonts, headers and footers, text boxes, columns | May differ from Word |
Because the PDF is generated from the document's structure rather than by Microsoft Word itself, the result is a clean, readable version of your content, but it is not a pixel-perfect copy of the Word layout. Documents built mainly from text, headings, lists, tables and pictures convert best.
Tips and limitations
- Only .docx is supported. The old binary
.docformat (Word 97–2003) cannot be read. Open it in Word, LibreOffice or Google Docs and use Save as →.docxfirst. - Use built-in heading styles. Text formatted with Word's Heading styles is recognised as headings; text that is just made bigger and bold is treated as a normal paragraph.
- Check page-specific content. Headers, footers, page numbers and complex layouts may not be reproduced exactly. If you need page numbers, you can add them afterwards.
- Shrink the result if the document has many large photos: run the PDF through Compress PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert a .doc file?
No. Only the modern .docx format is supported. Save the .doc file as .docx in any word processor and then convert it.
Why does the PDF look slightly different from Word?
The converter rebuilds the document from its content. Text, headings, lists, tables and images are kept, but exact fonts, headers and footers and advanced layouts such as text boxes or multiple columns may be rendered differently.
Can I turn the PDF back into Word?
Yes. Use PDF to Word to get an editable .docx again, although keeping the original Word file is always the most accurate option.