How to convert PDF to Word on a Mac
Last reviewed: 2026-10-25
macOS does not include Microsoft Word, and many Mac users never install it. You do not need it to turn a PDF into an editable document.
Convert in the browser
- Open pdf-to-word.online in Safari, Chrome or Firefox.
- Drag the PDF from Finder onto the upload area, or click it to browse. You can add up to 20 files.
- Click Convert. A one-page text PDF took about 1 to 2 seconds of conversion time in our tests; scans take a few seconds per page.
- The .docx file lands in your Downloads folder.
Convert a PDF now →
Free, no sign-up, files deleted as soon as you download the result
Opening the .docx on a Mac
- Pages (free from Apple): opens .doc and .docx files and can save back to Word format. Drag the file onto the Pages icon, or use File → Open; double-clicking opens Word instead if you have it. Note that Pages cannot open PDFs, which is why the conversion step is needed.
- Google Docs (free, Google account): upload the .docx to Drive and open it with Google Docs.
- LibreOffice Writer (free download): opens and saves .docx.
- Microsoft Word for Mac, if you have it.
What about Preview?
Preview, the PDF viewer built into macOS, can annotate a PDF, fill in forms, sign, combine files and add, delete or move pages, but Apple’s Preview guide lists no way to turn a PDF into an editable Word document. You can copy text out of a normal PDF in Preview and paste it into a document, which is fine for a paragraph or two but loses tables and layout.
After converting
If the document looks off (line breaks in every line, a different font, a table with odd column widths), the fixes are the same on a Mac as on Windows; see fixing fonts and layout. In Word for Mac, Find and Replace accepts the same ^l code for manual line breaks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert PDF to Word on a Mac for free?
Yes. Convert in any browser on this site with no sign-up, then open the .docx in Pages, Google Docs, LibreOffice or Word.
Can Preview convert PDF to Word?
No. Preview can copy text out of a PDF but cannot create an editable Word document with tables and layout.