Need the Older Word Format?
Most PDF converters make DOCX files. Some older programs can't open DOCX and ask for a .doc file instead. This tool turns your PDF into a DOC file in the Word 97-2003 format, so you can open it and edit the text.
Scanned PDFs work differently, because they hold pictures of pages and not real text. You'll find more on that below.
How to Convert PDF to DOC
- Upload your PDF - Drag it into the box at the top of this page, or browse for it. You can add up to 5 files at once.
- Check the output - DOC is already picked on this page.
- Download your file - Save the .doc file when it's ready.
Your file is uploaded and converted on our servers, so you don't need to install anything or make an account. You can read more on our security page.
What Happened When We Tested It
On 5 November 2026 we ran test PDFs that we made ourselves through our converter code, then checked what came out:
- Report with a table, an image and bold text: the table and image carried over, and 277 of 280 words matched.
- Two-column PDF: all 1,200 words came through. We checked the words, not the layout.
- 50-page document: all 18,100 words came through.
- Scanned page: it came through as a picture, so the text can't be edited without OCR.
- Five files at once: 10 of 10 conversions gave a real .doc file.
We didn't open these files in Word 2003. We checked that they use the Word 97-2003 file format.
When to Use DOC Instead of DOCX
Pick DOC when a program or website won't take anything else. Older office systems may only read DOC, and some job sites and online forms still ask for a .doc file.
If you don't have a rule like that, choose our PDF to DOCX converter. DOCX is the format newer versions of Word use, and it keeps links more reliably.
DOC vs DOCX: What's the Difference?
Both are Microsoft Word formats, but they store your document in different ways:
- DOC - The binary format used from Word 97 to Word 2003.
- DOCX - The XML format that came with Word 2007. It's the normal choice today.
What Comes Through
Results depend on how your PDF was made:
- PDFs with real text: You get text you can edit. Tables and images came through in our test.
- Scanned PDFs: Each page comes through as a picture. We don't run OCR, so you can't edit the words.
- Two-column PDFs: The words come through, but check the layout because you may need to fix it.
- Links: Link text carries over, but links may not stay clickable in DOC.
Common PDF to DOC Issues
Fonts Look Different
If your computer doesn't have a font from the PDF, Word uses a similar one. You can still edit the text, but it may look a little different.
The Layout Moves
A PDF keeps everything in a fixed spot, while text in a DOC file flows down the page. That's why headers, footers and text boxes can shift.
Images Look Blurry
A low-quality image in the PDF will still be low quality in the DOC file. Converting can't add detail that was never there.
Opening Your DOC File
You can open your DOC file in Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs or Apple Pages. When you're done editing, use our DOC to PDF converter to turn it back into a PDF.
Batch Convert Up to 5 PDFs
Add up to 5 PDFs and convert them to DOC together. Each one can be up to 300 MB. Every file is converted on its own, so you get a separate DOC for each PDF.
Works on Any Device
You can use this tool from any web browser:
- Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge
- iPhone, iPad and Android phones and tablets