[2023] How to Convert PDF to Word on Mac or Windows without Losing Formatting

Connie Wisley
time February 08, 2023 Preview 400.4K
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PDF has countless advantages, but it cannot be edited as easily as Microsoft Word document. If you don’t have a PDF editor, which is always highly priced, you won’t be able to edit or utilize the PDF source as needed. But we can convert PDF to Word for easy editing. 

There are so many solutions available to convert PDF to editable Word on Mac, but a PDF to Word conversion won’t happen flawlessly, PDF and Word are just 2 different formats and the formatting will change a little after the conversion. How to convert PDF to Word on Mac or Windows without losing formatting, as much as possible? In this article, we will bring you the best PDF to Word Converter that kills this problem, along with several free ways to change PDF to Word.

Part 1. Best Way to Convert PDF to Word without Losing Formatting (Mac and Windows)

The key for PDF to Word conversion is always the formatting. But the conversion speed is equally critical, since a PDF file is always in multiple pages and the file size may come out as large. To convert even large and multiple PDFs into high-quality, well-formatted Word output, we need a professional PDF to Word converter.

According to users, Cisdem PDF Converter OCR is picked as the best PDF to Word converter for both Mac and Windows. It is a program designed to convert PDF files into various formats for easy editing, reading and management, it can perform the conversion between PDF and Word format expertly, not changing the original formatting.

Main features of Cisdem PDF Converter OCR

  • Convert native/scanned/protected PDFs and images
  • Export files as editable Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Keynote/Pages/ePub/HTML/Text and so on
  • Make scanned PDF to be searchable with OCR
  • Create PDF from Word, images and so on
  • Merge all documents into one PDF
  • Convert whole or partial document
  • Support batch conversion
  • Maintain original file quality

Steps to convert PDF to Word on Mac or Windows without Losing Formatting

  1. Download and Install Cisdem PDF Converter OCR.
    Download the free trial of Cisdem PDF Converter OCR, install the program.
    Free Download   Free Download
  2. Add PDFs to Cisdem, add multiple PDFs one time.
    Drag and drop the PDF file to the interface of the "Converter" or you can add by clicking the "+" icon at the bottom of the program. It supports importing multiple PDFs and converting in batches, you can add all PDFs that you want to convert to Word format.convert pdf to word on mac
  3. Choose PDF Page Range and Select Output as Word.
    You can choose to convert all pages or convert specified pages by filling in the page range. Also, choose Word Doc or Docx as output from the output menu. To convert scanned PDFs, you need to turn on the OCR feature.save pdf as word on mac
  4. Click “Convert” to save PDF as Word.
    Click on the Convert button at the bottom of the interface, choose output folder to save the Word document. Once the conversion finishes, click on the "√" icon to check the Word file in output folder.convert pdf to word on mac with cisdem 04

Also, you can watch the tutorial video to convert PDF to Word now.

Part 2. Convert PDF to Word Free

If you haven’t decided to pay for a PDF to Word converter, there are options to convert PDF to Word for free. Each tool may have its own limitations and won't preserve the formatting as that in a professional PDF to Word converter, but still worth a try.

#1 Preview

Preview is the PDF viewer and annotator to manage PDF files on mac, it can view, annotate, combine, sign and convert PDFs. However, it can only export PDF to image formats. And the only way to convert PDF to Word with Preview will be copying and pasting.

Advantages:

  1. Free to use

Disadvantages:

  1. Take time and efforts
  2. Original formatting cannot be retained
  3. Convert native PDF only

How to Convert PDF to Word on Mac Free Using Preview?

  1. Open PDF with Mac Preview.
  2. Select the PDF contents, right click to copy and paste the PDF contents into a Word file.pdf to word preview
  3. Save the Word file.

#2 UniPDF 

UniPDF PDF to Word Converter is a free Windows desktop program to export PDF as Word, image, html or text format. You can export the PDF file as Word in rtf or doc format. It does the conversion quickly and well, however, its free version doesn’t support batch mode nor converting more than 3 files per day.

Advantages:

  1. Free to use
  2. Export PDF as Word, image, Text or HTML

Disadvantages:

  1. Cannot batch convert 
  2. Convert only 3 files per day

How to Convert PDF to Word Free?

  1. Download and install UniPDF PDF to Word converter on your Windows PC.
  2. Upload the file and choose output as Word.pdf to word free 01
  3. Also, you can click Settings to customize the Word document.pdf to word free02
  4. Click Convert button and add PDF files for conversion, a Word file will be generated from the PDF.pdf to word free03

#3 Google Docs (Online)

Google provides an online platform for users to manage their documents---Google Docs. In Google Docs, you can open PDFs and convert PDF to Word or other editable formats on Mac free without installing software. In addition, it works on scanned PDFs.

Advantages:

  1. Free to use
  2. No software installed
  3. Convert both native and scanned PDFs
  4. Allow editing

Disadvantages:

  1. Formatting cannot be retained
  2. No batch conversion
  3. Need to register as Google user first

How to Convert PDF to Word Free without Software Using Google Docs?

  1. Go to Google account>Google Drive.
  2. Click "New" to upload PDF file.
  3. Right click on the file,open with Google Docs.
  4. Go to File>Download as>Word. Your PDF will be converted into Word.export pdf to word on mac google

Part 3. Convert PDF to Word without Acrobat

If you are going to create and edit PDF files very often, a PDF editor will be much better than a PDF to Word converter, it allows you to do everything. Is there any other PDF editor as powerful as Adobe Acrobat but with a more affordable price and allows converting PDF to Word? Yes, Foxit PhantomPDF for Mac.

Foxit Phantom PDF is a PDF editor ($139) for PDF document generation and management, you are allowed to create and PDF document or fillable forms, sort and export PDFs, use OCR to make PDF editable, share and collaborate on the same PDF file, even you can protect the files.

How to Convert PDF to Word on Mac or Windows without Adobe?

  1. Download and install Foxit Phantom.
  2. Add PDF file to the program. add file foxit
  3. Then go to Tools>Convert.convert pdf to word foxit
  4.  Click “To Word” and adjust the settings as needed, then click OK to convert PDF to Word on mac with PDF editor.save as word foxit

Final Words

There must be more methods to convert PDF to Word on Mac or Windows, but if you want to make your conversions easy, fast and high quality, have a try on PDF Converter OCR, the program that can kill the formatting troubles, once and for all.

Free Download   Free Download

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Connie Wisley
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Connie has been writing for Mac productivity and utility apps since 2009. Each review and solution is based on her practical tests, she is aways energetic and trustworthy in this field.

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Comments (22) Leave a Reply

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  • Ashley

    Before reading this post, I tried several PDF converters. It is indeed difficult to find software that has many formats and maintains layout well. Cisdem PDF Converter OCR is easy to install, and perfectly changes my PDF to Word. I also love batch conversion, easy and time-saving!

    0 months ago Reply

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  • Lucas Balon

    So, the conclusion is, you should use a desktop to save the PDF as Word if you want to keep the formatting.

    3 years ago Reply

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  • CoCo

    Thanks for the informative sharing. I used to use Adobe on my old Mac, but now I am using Cisdem PDF Converter OCR on my new macbook air, it affordable to me and works well so far, almost all the conversion preserved the layout as original, except some complex text. Good work!

    4 years ago Reply

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  • Karen

    Like the PDF Converter OCR recommended in this article very much. It help me convert all my needed scanned pdf to the word i need. Save me much time! No need to retype the word anymore. Haha

    4 years ago Reply

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  • lily

    nice converter!!! the exported word is VERY NICE. I have compared with other converters. As this one is cheaper, i decide to make a free trial. It can fully meet my needs.I will pay for it for long time use. Thanks for your sharing!!!

    4 years ago Reply

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  • Haley

    Thanks for the guide, each solution to convert PDF to Word on a Mac covered in this guide is workable. Your recommendation is good, a tool that can work on any PDFs is really powerful.

    4 years ago Reply

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  • Hannah

    Super helpful. Finally someone with the answer! Thanks!

    6 years ago Reply

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  • Bekky

    I think more users will choose PDFConverterOCR because of the OCR feature, you know, if you are desk-bound, you will deal with scanned files.

    6 years ago Reply

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  • Carbin

    I have tried the PDF to Word Converter, and come here for a comment thanking you guys. It saved me the trouble about formatting, thanks.

    6 years ago Reply

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  • Smithc390

    As a Newbie, I am continuously searching online for articles that can aid me. Thank you abckeggdabddkecb

    6 years ago Reply

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  • Johne863

    What's up it's me, I am also visiting this site daily, this website is actually pleasant and the visitors are really sharing fastidious thoughts. ekdcfbgcdggk

    6 years ago Reply

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  • Jason Mek

    Nice post. I got several scanned pdf to convert to Word, i tried the software and amazing, thanks.

    6 years ago Reply

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  • Darrance

    That's the pefrect insight in a thread like this.

    7 years ago Reply

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  • Eric

    You must pay for all the methods. You should point that out when posting

    7 years ago Reply

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  • Alexander

    I used Cisdem PDF to Word Converter with OCR to convert my scanned PDF files, it worked very well. There are many tables and images on my PDF file, this converter convert them perfectly. The only regret is that this application doesn't supports to batch convert, but so did others.

    7 years ago Reply

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  • Laura

    When I click on the Convert button, a screen pops up asking for a "key code" before it will convert. What's the key code?

    7 years ago Reply

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    • Rosa

      Many developers provides a free trial for each users, but if you want to use those application to convert, you need to go to their website to get a key code.

      7 years ago
  • Jay

    Useful article. Detailed steps. Using PDF to Word converter software may be a good choice. I will try Cisdem PDF to Word Converter.

    7 years ago Reply

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  • Dyson

    When the file is uploaded, it will be immediately uploaded to your Google Drive and right away opened for preview. Convert a PDF to a Word Document Step 25.

    7 years ago Reply

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  • Ronald852

    PDF to word converter with OCR is so great! I had a complex scanned PDF file and I wanted to convert it to Word. This application is powerful, it retains all formats. Thanks for it.

    7 years ago Reply

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  • will

    I just went to zamzar and it is NOT free and the latest reader, Adobe Feader DC does NOT save as a .docx. It saves as txt.

    7 years ago Reply

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  • Helga746

    Three ways to convert PDF to Word, and every way all are equipped with detailed steps to operate. Writer is so great!!! I used solution 2 as my PDF was OCR file. Its transition effects were great. I like it!!!

    8 years ago Reply

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  • Nora Osborne

    Useful article, writer recommended various methods to convert PDF to Word and very detailed steps. It is great. I will try.

    8 years ago Reply

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