Converting a PDF to Word on a Mac depends on what you need. Do you want editable text? Do you need the layout identical to the original? The right method depends on that answer.

Method 1: Use Word Built-In PDF Converter (Mac)

  1. Open Microsoft Word on your Mac.
  2. Go to File → Open and select your PDF.
  3. Word converts it and opens as an editable .docx.
  4. Save via File → Save As → Word Document (.docx).

Best for simple PDFs with single-column text and basic formatting. Complex layouts with tables or graphics often come through scrambled. Scanned PDFs return blank because Word cannot read image-based text.

Method 2: Use the PDFfans PDF to Word Converter

  1. Open the PDFfans PDF to Word converter in Safari or Chrome.
  2. Upload your PDF. Every page shows up as a thumbnail.
  3. Tick the pages you want and pick a mode: Editable text or Exact layout.
  4. Click Convert to Word, then download the .docx and open it in Word for Mac.

Editable text rebuilds the PDF as real Word paragraphs you can edit. The file is processed on our secure server and deleted right after conversion. It handles up to 20 pages at a time.

Exact layout places each page in Word as a high-resolution image. The layout stays identical, but the text is not editable. This mode runs in your browser, so the file never leaves your Mac.

Method 3: Copy Text Using Apple Preview

  1. Open the PDF in Preview.
  2. Click Edit → Select All, or drag to select text.
  3. Copy and paste into Word.

Works only on digital PDFs, not scans. Tables paste as plain text and need manual reformatting.

Which Method on Mac?

  • Need editable text and Word handles your file fine → Method 1
  • Word scrambles the text, or you have no Word desktop app → Method 2, Editable text
  • Need the layout preserved exactly, or the PDF is a scan → Method 2, Exact layout
  • Just need a few lines quickly → Method 3

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I convert a scanned PDF to editable Word on Mac?

Not with Word or Preview. A scan is a picture of a page with no text inside, so you need OCR software to get editable words out of it. The PDFfans converter can still put a scanned PDF into Word using Exact layout mode, which keeps each page as an image.

Does this work on MacBook Air or older Mac?

Yes. All three methods work on any Mac running a current version of macOS. The browser tool only needs Safari or Chrome.

Why does text look wrong when Word opens my PDF?

Word struggles with complex layouts. Multi-column text and unusual fonts often shift. If the layout matters more than editing, use Exact layout mode in the browser tool.

Is there a file size limit for the browser tool?

The limit for your account is shown on the upload box. Editable text mode also handles up to 20 pages and 50MB per conversion.