Saving a Word document as a PDF is one of the most common tasks in any office — and it takes about ten seconds once you know where to look. Here are three ways to do it, depending on what you have available.

Method 1: Use an Online Tool (Works on Any Device, No Software)

The quickest option when you don't have Word installed, or when you're on a phone or tablet.

  1. Go to PDFfans Word to PDF converter.
  2. Drag your .docx file onto the upload area, or click Choose File.
  3. The live preview shows how the PDF will look — check it before converting.
  4. Optional: click Document Options to add a header, footer, or page numbers.
  5. Click Convert to PDF, then download the file.

The conversion runs in your browser. Your Word file never leaves your device — it's not uploaded to any server.

Method 2: Use Word's Built-In Export (Windows and Mac)

If you have Microsoft Word installed, this is the most straightforward route.

  1. Open your document in Word.
  2. Click File → Save As (or File → Export on Mac).
  3. In the format dropdown, select PDF.
  4. Choose a save location and click Save.

Word uses its own PDF engine, so fonts and layout stay consistent. This is the most reliable method for complex documents with custom fonts or tracked changes.

Method 3: Print to PDF (Works in Any App)

If the file is open in any application — Word, LibreOffice, Google Docs — you can "print" it as a PDF without a physical printer.

  1. Open the document.
  2. Press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) to open the print dialog.
  3. In the printer selector, choose Save as PDF (Mac) or Microsoft Print to PDF (Windows).
  4. Click Print and choose where to save the file.

This works for any file type, not just Word. The quality depends on the app — Word's native export usually produces a smaller, cleaner PDF than Print to PDF.

Which Method Is Best?

  • On a phone or tablet, or don't have Word → Method 1
  • Working on a desktop with Word installed → Method 2
  • Need to convert a file from an app that doesn't have a direct export option → Method 3

Frequently Asked Questions

Does saving as PDF change the formatting?

It shouldn't, but it can with complex documents. Word's built-in export (Method 2) is the most reliable for preserving exact formatting. The online tool works well for standard documents. Print to PDF sometimes shifts margins or page breaks slightly.

Can I save only certain pages as a PDF?

With Word's export, yes — go to File → Save As → PDF and look for "Page Range" before saving. With Print to PDF, enter the page range in the print dialog. The online tool currently converts the full document.

Is the online conversion safe? Does my file get stored?

The PDFfans tool runs the conversion inside your browser. Your .docx file is never uploaded or stored on a server. The conversion happens locally, in your tab, and the file stays on your device.

Can I convert a .doc file (older format) as well as .docx?

The online tool currently accepts .docx files. For older .doc files, open the file in Word first, save it as .docx, then convert to PDF using any of the three methods above.