Preliminary information
Prima di enter the live tutorial, walking to spiegare how to turn PDF to word, there is some preliminary information that it is my duty to provide you to allow you to have perfectly clear ideas on what to do.
Let's start from a fixed point: not all PDF documents that are transformed into Word files, therefore in DOC or DOCX formats, can be edited at will. This essentially depends on how the PDFs were originally processed.
Let me explain: the PDFs they originally were scanned as pictures they can be edited only by adding new elements, but unfortunately it is not possible to go and intervene on the text present in them directly. On the other hand, the situation is different for PDFs consisting of texts, which can be freely modified, adding new elements but also and above all modifying those already present in them, like what happens with any Word document.
To create PDF documents with editable text you need to use technology OCR (Optical Character Recognition), which allows for optical character recognition to detect text. To take advantage of them, just use programs, online services and apps that explicitly declare their support.
How to turn PDF to Word for free
Having made the necessary clarifications, we can finally get to the heart of this guide and go and find out how to turn PDF to word for free. Below, therefore, you will find those that, in my opinion, represent the best programs for Windows e MacOS currently available on the square.
Word (Windows / macOS)
If it is your intention to turn a PDF into Word by acting as a computer, you can contact it in the first place Word from Microsoft. Not everyone knows this, but as of the 2013 version of Microsoft Officein fact, the famous word processor, an integral part of the suite, allows you to import PDFs and edit them, just like what is possible with any Word file. In this way, you can edit the content of PDFs (a basic OCR function is included) and save it as a DOC or DOCX file.
Office is available for operating systems Windows and also for MacOS, so it can be considered an excellent solution for transform a PDF into Word Mac, but unfortunately it is not free (the most recent version, which requires the subscription to Microsoft 365, has costs starting from 7 euros / month or from 69 euros / year). Fortunately, however, there is a 30-day trial period available. For all the details of the case, I refer you to reading my specific guide on how to download Word for free.
Having said that, to use Word for your purpose, first start the program by selecting the relevant one collegamento that you find in Windows Start menu or select theicon present in MacOS Launchpad, then click on the menu Fillet at the top left, select the Open item from the latter and open the PDF document on which to act.
Next, click on your button OK (to accept any alterations to the layout of the file), click on the menu again Fillet e scegli l'opzione Save with name from the latter, then save the document by choosing the format DOC or that one DOCX.
Doxillion Document Converter (Windows / macOS)
Another tool you can rely on to turn PDF to Word is Doxillion Document Converter. It is a zero-cost software (if used for personal use, while if used for commercial purposes the license must be purchased at a cost of $ 19,99), usable both on Windows and on macOS and thanks to which it is possible to convert various types of documents from one format to another, therefore also PDFs in DOC or DOCX files. It's super easy to use and even works in batches.
To download the program to your PC, visit its website and click the link Download Doxillion PDF and document converter for Windows / mac OS X present at the top.
When the download is complete, if you are using Windows, april il .exe file ottenuto e, nella finestra che compare sul desktop, clicca sul pulsador Yes, then select the option Continue to install the cittàn version (v x.xx), select the voice I accept the license conditions and complete the setup by clicking on the button NEXT.
Stai using MacOSinstead, extract theZIP archive obtained in a position of your choice, open the package .dmg inside it and, in the window that is shown to you, click on the button Agree. Afterwards, drag theprogram icon in the folder Applications on your Mac, right-click on it and select the item apri twice in a row, in order to start the software, however, going around the limitations imposed by Apple on non-certified developers (an operation that must be performed only at the first run).
Once the Doxillion Document Converter main window appears, click the button Add files which is located at the top left and select the PDFs you want to act on. If you want, you can also add an entire folder of files by pressing the button Add folder.
Next, select from the drop-down menu Output format the format .doc or that one . Docx, click here Document settings to make any adjustments to the final file and start the conversion procedure by pressing the button Converted which is located at the bottom right.
By default, the output files are saved in the same location as the source files. If you want to change this behavior, click the button before starting the conversion Shop by Department that you find next to the wording Output folder and indicate the location on your computer where you prefer to save the converted PDF to Word.
Adobe Acrobat DC (Windows / macOS)
You can also perform the operation described in this tutorial by using Adobe Acrobat DC, the official program for creating and editing PDFs made available by Adobe, the company that developed the format in question. It is available for both Windows and macOS and acts as a viewer, but it also includes many tools for making various changes to PDF documents. Basically it is free, but some functions are available only for those who decide to subscribe to the Pro version (which has a basic cost of € 18,29), which you can try for free for 7 days.
transform a PDF into Word with Adobe Acrobat, visit the program's website and click on the button Download Acrobat Reader.
When the download is complete, if you are using Windows, april il .exe file ottenuto and click on your button Yes in the window that appears on the desktop. Afterwards, wait for the download of the components necessary to make the program work to be completed, then press the button Ends.
Stai using MacOSInstead, open the package .dmg obtained and double-click the .pkg file present in the window that appears. After doing this, hit the button Continue twice in a row, type the Password of your Apple account and click sul pulsating Install software. Conclude the setup by pressing the button Close.
Once the Acrobat Reader DC window appears on the screen, choose whether to make the software the default reader for PDFs or not, then click on the menu Fillet at the top left, click on the item apri in it and select the PDF to convert to Word file.
Now that you are viewing the PDF document, select the tab Instruments located at the top, click the button apri placed under the heading Export PDF, select the option Microsoft Word document (* docx) or that one Microsoft Word 97-2003 document (* doc) that you find in the drop-down menu Converted in and press the button Export to Word.
How to turn PDF to Word online
You don't want or can't download new programs to your computer and then you'd like to figure out if there is a system for turn a PDF to Word online? The answer is yes. In fact, below you will find some of the best Web services useful for the purpose you can rely on. They work directly from the browser window, regardless of the operating system you are using.
DocsPal
The first service that I suggest you use to transform a PDF to Word is called DocsPal and allows you to convert all major digital document formats together. It is free, requires no registration and allows you to upload up to 5 files at the same time, for a maximum total weight of 50 MB. It should be noted that the files uploaded to the service are kept on the servers of the same for a maximum of 5 days, after which they are removed, so the user's privacy should be guaranteed.
To take advantage of DocsPal, connected to the home page of the service, click on the button Browse the file che trovi in corrispondenza della sezione Step 1 and select the PDFs you want to convert to Word. Alternatively, drag and drop documents directly into the navigator window. And if the PDFs you want to act on are already online, you can take them from there, by entering the relative URL in the field Enter the URL of the file.
After completing the above steps, select the format DOC - Microsoft Word Document or that one DOCX - Microsoft Word 2007 Document from the drop-down menu that you find corresponding to the section Step 2. Infine, click the button Convert files which is located at the bottom.
In a few moments the output document will be returned to you, which you can download by clicking on its name at the bottom of the new page displayed, under the heading Converted files. If you want to receive a link to download the file by e-mail, check the option in advance Send a download link to my email address (optional) che trovi in corrispondenza della sezione Step 3 and type your email address in the field provided.
Free Online OCR
I suggest you pay special attention to the web service as well Free Online OCR. As the name implies, this is a free, no-sign-up solution that allows you to turn a PDF into editable Word, quite simply and quickly. The only thing to take into account is that the maximum size allowed for uploaded files is 15 MB. As for the privacy issue, exact information is not provided regarding the deletion of files from the service's servers.
To use Free Online OCR, visit the home page of the service, click on the button Select file and select the PDF to turn into Word file. Then select the language in which the text of the document is written from the first drop-down menu, then choose the option Microsoft Word (docx) from the second drop-down menu.
In conclusion, click on the button Converted and download the returned file by clicking on the button Download the output file which is located at the bottom. Before downloading the final file, you can also make changes to the text, acting on the preview that is shown at the bottom of the page.
How to turn PDF to Word on smartphones and tablets
Now I want to tell you about a whole series of apps that you can use for turn a PDF into Word on smartphones and tablets, therefore without necessarily having to have a computer at hand. Find them below. They are available for both Android that for iOS / iPadOS.
- PDF to Word Converter (Android / iOS / iPadOS) - this is a free app through which PDF documents can be transformed into Word files. The only thing to keep in mind is that it takes 1 hour to complete the conversions. To get around this limitation and unlock other additional functions, you need to make in-app purchases (with prices starting from € 5,99).
- PDF Conversion Suite (Android) - specific app for Android devices that allows you to convert PDF files that are fed to you in various formats, including Word, of course. It's free, but some additional features must be unlocked via in-app purchases (starting at € 2,59)
- easyPDF (iOS / iPadOS) - application available only for iPhone and iPad that allows you to transform a PDF into Word and also perform the reverse operation. It is totally free.
