Convert Word to PDF

You can convert a Word file to a PDF for free using Adobe’s online tools. Simply drag and drop your Word document into the dropzone above, or upload it by clicking Select a file, and then hit convert. Once done, you can save it as a PDF and share it with others. Do note, you may need to log-in to an Adobe account to do this, but it’s completely free and quick to sign up.

Adobe online tools preserve your document formatting when you convert from Word to PDF. Whether it’s a DOC or DOCX file, your fonts, images, and alignment will look exactly as expected on Mac or Windows.

Try a 7-day free trial of Adobe Acrobat Pro to edit PDFs offline and convert PNGs, GIFs, and other formats.

Our Word to PDF tool lets you convert DOCX, DOC, RTF, and TXT files to PDF. You can use Adobe online tools on a web browser on your mobile device, laptop or desktop. Simply drag and drop or upload a file to convert and download as a PDF.

You should convert a Word file to a PDF if you want the document to retain the formatting as desired. With a PDF, fonts and styles will remain where they are in a page regardless of the operating system and device they’re opened on.

DOC and DOCX are both file formats used by Microsoft Word. The difference between them is that the DOC file extension is an older version, used by Microsoft Word 2003 and earlier. The DOCX file extension is the new file format. So, if you have Microsoft Word 2003 or earlier, you’ll need to download the free Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack. This lets you view, edit, and save DOCX files.

We understand that your privacy is essential. When you use Adobe online tools, if you don’t sign in and save your work, any files you upload will be deleted from our servers. Find out more about the privacy practices of Adobe applications and websites at our Privacy Centre.

You can save a Word document as a PDF without using a converter. Simply follow these steps:

1. With the document open, open the File tab.
2. Click Save As.
3. Use the box underneath the file name to change the file type.
4. Select PDF.
5. Name the file.
6. Select a folder location and hit Save.

Converting a Word file to a PDF will usually make the document smaller, making it easier to email. Converting a Word file to a PDF is also a good idea if you want the document to only be read and not easily edited.

While you can use some software to edit a PDF – such as Adobe Acrobat – the fonts and styles on editing software are unlikely to fully match the original. Therefore, it can be possible to identify any edits.