Buzz
Microsoft Word 2013, the latest version of the Word processing software, is the first edition that allows you to open and edit PDF files directly within Word. If you are using Microsoft Word 2013, the process is quite straightforward. If not, you will need additional software to perform the conversion.
Steps
Using Word 2013
Launch Microsoft Word. Press the Windows key (located to the left of the Alt key), type the keyword "word", and then press ↵ Enter.
Click on a blank document. When you first open Word, you'll be presented with various template and special formatting options. For the purpose of this guide, select "blank document."
Click on "File." Select the File tab located at the top-left corner of the window. A dropdown menu will appear on the left side of the window, displaying several different options.
Click on "Open." Locate and click the Open option. It will be one of the first choices listed for you. Another menu will appear, showing the sources from which you can open a document.
Select the correct source. If the PDF file is on your computer, click on Computer. If it’s stored on a USB drive or another external hard drive, click on that specific drive.
Choose the PDF file. Locate and open the correct PDF file from its saved location on your computer.
Click "OK" in the dialog box. After opening the PDF file, you’ll be notified that the process may take some time to complete. Depending on the file size and the amount of graphics it contains, this process could take longer.
- Note that if the file contains numerous graphics, Word might not format the document correctly. The file will still open, but the result may not look identical.
Enable editing. If you downloaded the file from a website, you might find that editing is restricted. This is a security measure Word uses to prevent your computer from being infected by viruses.
- If you trust the source of the file, click the File tab at the top-left corner of the window, then select "Enable Editing" in the yellow dialog box.
Edit the document. You can now start editing the document just as you would with any other Word file.
Navigate through the document. Use the arrows on the left and right sides of the window to move between pages, or scroll as you normally would.
Using older versions of Word
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader. While there are online services available for file conversion, their safety can be questionable. Adobe Acrobat not only serves as a reliable conversion tool but also offers document annotation features. Although Adobe Acrobat Reader comes with a price, you can opt for a 30-day free trial by visiting: https://www.acrobat.com/en_us/free-trial-download.html?promoid=KQZBU#. Follow the installation instructions carefully.
- You will need to provide some personal details such as your name, email, and date of birth. Remember to uncheck the option to receive promotional emails from Adobe to avoid clutter in your inbox.
- If you prefer not to create a new account or if your trial period has expired, there are free online document conversion services available. Visit https://www.pdftoword.com/ or http://www.pdfonline.com/pdf-to-word-converter/ and follow the site instructions. Be cautious as these online tools may not be secure.
Launch Acrobat Reader. The process may vary slightly depending on whether you are using a Mac or a PC.
- For PC users: Press the Windows key, type "Acrobat Reader," and then press ↵ Enter.
- For Mac users: Open Finder from the Dock, type "Acrobat Reader" in the search box, and then open the application.
Upload a document. To convert a PDF document, you first need to open it in Acrobat Reader. Locate and click on the "Computer" option under the "Storage" heading on the left side of the window. Then, click the blue "Browse" button and open the PDF file.
Convert the document. You can achieve this through two different methods. Both will result in a Word document from your PDF.
- Method 1: Click on File at the top left corner of the window. Then, select "Save as Other" from the dropdown menu. Finally, click on "Word or Excel Online" from the two options.
- On the webpage that opens, select "Convert to" and "Document Language." Ensure you choose the appropriate Word version and desired language. Then, click the blue "Export to Word" button.
- Method 2: Click the "Export PDF" button on the right side of the window, choose your desired Word version, and click the blue "Convert" button.
Open the new Word document. Find and open the newly created Word document from wherever you decided to save the file.
Advice
- Ensure that you convert to the Word format compatible with your computer. Older versions of Word (before 2007) typically use the DOC format, while newer versions use DOCX.
