Converting scanned PDF files to editable and searchable Word documents can be a daunting process. There is much complexity in the conversion process that could lead to even more errors in your newly created documents. To start with, most PDF documents are intended for printing. They might, therefore, have hidden text/images or combine several pages on one page.
As the name says, how to convert scanned pdf to word document. You can find lots of method related to it on Google. But, many pdf to word online converter programs or free PDF converter tool have too many steps. They are too complicated for common users with little knowledge about computers. The main reason that very few people know about docx conversion is that there aren’t many easy ways to do so in a quick and effective manner.
Convert PDF to Word is a process that is used to convert scanned PDF files into editable Word documents. This can be done if you have access to Corel Draw, or an editor like it. Without it, you will need to hire someone to do the conversion for you. The process itself is actually quite simple and can be done with a few clicks of the mouse.
Scanned PDF files are widely used as a popular file format. But with the easy appearance of this type of scanned file, sometimes you are unable to edit its content due to incompatibility between the software. So this article is introduced here.
Convert PDF to Word
In the steps below, I am using a PC with the Microsoft 365 subscription. To learn about the latest version of Microsoft Office, check it out here.
1. Open Microsoft Word
Because we are using Microsoft Word as our PDF converter, you need to start with Microsoft Word open. Doing so, you will not need any third-party applications or software programs to make this work.
The fastest way to open Microsoft Word on a PC is to hit the Windows key, type Word, and hit Enter.
To learn more Windows 10 shortcuts like this that will save you time, read our guide here.
2. Launch the Open File dialog box
The fastest way to get at the Open Dialog box is to hit Ctrl + F12 on your keyboard. This immediately launches the open file dialog box in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. So it is a universal Microsoft Office keyboard shortcut.
Alternatively, you can click the File tab in Word and then click Open and Browse.
3. Locate the PDF file on your computer
Use the File Explorer dialog box to find the PDF file you want to convert and select it.
To learn how to shortcut the File Explorer using your Windows 10 shortcuts, read our guide here.
4. Click Open, then click OK
Once you find your file, select it with your mouse and click on Open.
You will then receive the following message:
“Word will now convert your PDF to an editable Word document. This may take a while. The resulting Word document will be optimized to allow you to edit the text, so it might not look exactly like the original PDF, especially if the original file contained lots of graphics.”
Click OK to continue.
5. Review your newly created Word document
Depending on how many graphics were in your original file, Word can do a great or mediocre job at the conversion.
If your PDF file was previously created in Microsoft Word, and then saved as a PDF (for details, read our guide here), Word will do a great job converting your document.
See my comments below on what types of content work best when converting PDF to Word.
6. Save your Word document
Before you get too excited about your new editable Word document, don’t forget to save it to your computer.
The fastest way to save a file on your computer is by hitting F12 to open the Save As dialog box. This allows you to not only rename your file (if you want to), but also to choose where you want to save it on your computer.
If your new Word document does not have a table of contents, this would be a great time to add one to make your document easier to read and navigate.
WPS PDF to Word Converter (PC)
This app converts a PDF to a Word document and retains all of the formatting. It is the best quality and most accurate PDF to .doc/.docx converter in terms of keeping fonts and layout intact, including bullets and tables. PDF files can be converted quickly and easily, with no registration necessary. Just download the installer from the WPS website. The free option will only allow you to convert up to 5 pages. Fo anything longer, or for more of the features they offer, you’ll need the premium version of the software.
To convert a PDF file, install the software on your desktop. As soon as you open the application, you’ll be presented with a welcome page that allows you to drag and drop files or add one manually.
Nitro
You can upload a PDF file to Nitro’s online PDF to Word converter, and the site will email you the converted Word document. There are a couple of limits to this tool, though. It can take 5–10 minutes to convert and deliver an average-sized file, but it may take longer for files with lots of pages or complex formatting. Nitro will only convert files that are no more than 50 pages or 5MB in size. If you need to convert a larger file, download a free trial of Nitro Pro.
Turn Scanned PDF into Word for Editing Using Adobe Acrobat Pro
Adobe Acrobat Pro is among the top converter software that is best suited for the scan PDF to Word conversion process. In fact, it rides on the slogan that you need not retype, re-format, or rescan any content from a scanned PDF when the built-in and automated OCR is at your disposal.
This PDF image to Word converter is popular for the instant conversion of any scanned PDF into editable and searchable Word while carrying over text, tables, and custom fonts to retain the original look. Amazingly, you can also OCR specific sections of a PDF when the need arises.
Steps to Convert Scanned PDF to Word using Adobe Acrobat Pro:
Step 1: Open the scanned PDF file. Click on the “File” menu and from the list option, choose “Open…”. Alternatively, you can just use the “Ctrl+O” hotkey. Use the resulting “Open” window to import the PDF file.
Step 2: Export the scanned PDF into editable Word. Again, using the “File” menu, select the “Export To” option, select “Microsoft Word” from the sidekick menu, and then pick either Word Document (DOCX) or Word 97-2003 Document (DOC).
Step 3: Configure output options and convert. In the resulting “Save As PDF” window, choose your output directory of choice, click on the “Settings…” button to adjust various parameters including the “Text Recognition Settings”, save the changes using the “OK” button, and finally hit the “Save” button.
PDF to Word Issues to look out for
Here are a few issues that I’ve noticed when converting PDF to Word. While none of these undermine this trick, they are things to keep in mind when you are looking at converting your PDFs to Word.
#1. More than one column.
The more columns in your PDF document, the harder it is for Word to convert it perfectly. The closer your file resembles a normal Word document (with one column of text) the more accurate your file will convert into an editable document.
#2. Many pictures, graphics and/or floating objects.
When looking at the document you want to convert, be aware that the more non-text objects in the document, the harder it is for Word to convert it into a fully editable document – especially if they do not line up within a single column.
#3. PDFs from PowerPoint.
If your PDF was originally created from a set of PowerPoint slides, it will still convert to the Word format, but your pictures and graphics might not perfectly appear where you want them. That’s because your file will likely be full-page slides with lots of graphics. Word can (and will) convert as much of your slides into an editable format, but it will not be perfect.
How to type on a scanned PDF document?
Typing on a scanned PDF is possible with a desktop PDF solution such as Able2Extract Professional. Since a scanned PDF is basically an image of a document, typing on it will add a new layer containing text on top of the original image layer.
To type on a scanned PDF document with Able2Extract Professional:
- Open a scanned PDF in Able2Extract
- Go to the Edit Document tab
- Click on the Add Text button
- Place your mouse cursor anywhere on the document, left click, and start typing
Note: You can change properties of the added text in the right-side panel, such as the font, font size, color, outline, line spacing, etc.
How to edit a scanned PDF document in Word?
First, you will need to extract content from a PDF to the editable file format compatible with Microsoft Word by using a software application with OCR technology.
To convert a scanned PDF to DOCX with Able2Extract Professional:
- Open a scanned document you’d like to edit in Word
- While in the Convert tab, look for a Word section in the right-side panel that will let you choose the Format (DOCX – Word 2007, RTF – Rich Text Format, ODT – OpenOffice Writer) and Formatting (Standard, Frames, Text Only)
- Click on the Word button under the Convert tab in the main toolbar
- Set a file name, choose location, and hit Save
Once the extraction is completed, just open the resulting document in Word and start editing as usual. Beats manual retyping every time!
There are a number of reasons why one might want to convert a scanned PDF document into a Microsoft Word document. Perhaps there is something in the PDF you need to manipulate, like photos or graphics. Or perhaps you are wondering how to repurpose an old file. Whatever the reason, this article will show you the best way to convert a scanned PDF file into a Word document that is editable and easy to work with.
How to Convert PDF Image to Word with PDFelement
PDFelement can be used to convert various file formats to Word. Its OCR feature is one of the most outstanding on the market. The OCR feature can change scanned PDF files into editable files, which are also selectable and searchable. You can include as many elements as you want, like text, images, graphics, numbers, and many more objects.TRY IT FREE
Step 1. Open an image file
After Launching PDFelement – the best image to Word converter on the market, you can press the “Open files” button on the Home window to load the PDF image file you need to convert. Alternatively, drag and drop an image file into PDFelement is also a good way to open an image file.
Step 2. OCR Settings before Conversion
After loading an image file, a notification bar will appear at the top of the window. Click the “Perform OCR” button. In the pop-up window, select the correct language of your PDF image content. If there are multiple languages within your PDF image, select multiple languages in the OCR list. Then click “OK” to begin the OCR process.
Step 3. Convert PDF Image to Word
When the OCR process is done, you will be able to edit the image file. Then, to convert image to Word, select the “To Word” option in the “Convert” tab. Then click the “Save” button to start the conversion process.
Conclusion
PDF files are a very popular file format. It is often convenient to use PDF because it is not editable so people can’t make changes to the document. This opens the door for a lot of malicious uses for the document such as sending out infected or otherwise fraudulent content. If you are receiving any PDF files that you need to read and edit, but aren’t allowed to make any changes, converting them to a Word file will allow you to edit the document instead.
There are a number of reasons why one might want to convert a scanned PDF document into a Microsoft Word document. Perhaps there is something in the PDF you need to manipulate, like photos or graphics. Or perhaps you are wondering how to repurpose an old file.