ADOBE ACROBAT
Convert PDFs to Word docs on Mac.
Learn to use Adobe Acrobat online to convert a PDF to Microsoft Word.
Why convert a PDF?
While the PDF is one of the most versatile document file formats out there, sometimes you need to switch to a different format, like a Word doc. It’s a common and necessary part of working. Here are some of the most common reasons to convert:
- You need to make a high volume of text edits.
- You are submitting a document through an automated tool that accepts only Microsoft formats. (For example, job application sites sometimes require this.)
- You don’t have the source file, and you need to reuse the information in a PDF.
Regardless of the reason, converting to a Word document is easy and takes only a few seconds in Adobe Acrobat online services. There, you can ensure that you get a high-quality conversion and you can find the other tools you need for working with PDFs all in one place.
This article outlines other options for converting PDF files to Word files, and it provides instructions for using Adobe’s free online converter tool.
How to convert a PDF to Word on a Mac with Preview.
If you haven’t installed any other software, you are probably already viewing PDFs in Preview because it’s the built-in and default app for viewing PDFs on most Mac computers. Within this app, you can try exporting the file as a Word file. If the original formatting isn’t too complex, the exported file might work just fine for your purposes.
If you don’t want to export the file or you find that you’re unable to export as a PDF, a work-around option would be to copy and paste the text from the PDF into a new Word file. Of course, that gives you the text to work with, but the formatting will likely be skewed. Try exporting first to see if that gives you better results.
1. Open the PDF in Preview.
The Preview app thumbnail looks like a photo and a loupe. If the file doesn’t automatically open in Preview, control-click the file and select Open With > Preview.
2. Export and save as a Word file.
How to convert a PDF to a Word doc using Word.
Another option is to try opening the PDF file in Word directly. This option might work if the PDF is text-based and uses simple formatting.
1. Open Word.
Click on the Word app to open it.
2. Select the PDF you want to convert.
Go to File > Open. Look for the PDF file that you want to convert. If necessary, select Browse and locate the folder where the file is stored.
3. Open the PDF.
Click Open. Word will let you know that it will make a copy of the original file and convert the contents so they can be displayed in Word.
4. The PDF will open as a read-only document.
You can’t make edits yet, but after you save the file as a Word document, you can change the settings.
5. Save the file as a Word doc.
How to convert a PDF File to a Microsoft Word document on a Mac.
From your Mac, it’s easy to convert a PDF into a Word doc. First, head to the PDF converter page. From there, follow these quick steps:
1. Click the blue button labeled “Select a file,” or drag and drop a PDF into the drop zone.
2. Select the PDF you want to convert to the DOCX file format.
3. Acrobat automatically converts the file from PDF to Word.
4. Download the converted Word document or sign in to save it to the cloud.
Frequently asked questions about PDF conversion.
How do I convert a PDF to Word without losing the formatting?
Acrobat online tools ensure that you don’t lose your formatting when moving from one file format to the other. With the online conversion tool, rich text, fonts, images, and alignments will remain how you’re expecting them to look, and the converted file is an editable Word document, so you can make any tweaks with no fuss afterward. You can also convert to other formats for Microsoft apps like Excel and PowerPoint.
What software do I need to convert from PDF to Word?
No additional software is required. Just open the online conversion tool in your internet browser, and let Acrobat handle the rest of the workflow.
Will my converted Word document be secure?
Acrobat online tools secure and protect your information — your converted document is not saved unless you choose to create a cloud account, which is protected by advanced security measures.
What are some of the features of Acrobat Pro?
If you’re looking for more tools beyond conversion, try a 7-day free trial of Adobe Acrobat Pro. Acrobat Pro gives you the power to edit PDF documents, convert scanned documents to PDFs and run text recognition on your documents, merge and split PDFs, request signatures, and more.
If you have documents that need converting, Acrobat Pro can help — learn more and explore what you can get done.
