How to convert a Word document to PDF
Updated · PDF Converter
Sending a CV, an invoice or a report as a PDF means it looks the same for everyone, cannot be changed by accident and opens on any device. You do not need Microsoft Word installed to make one: Word to PDF converts .docx files in a few seconds. The one decision to make is which conversion engine to use.
Convert Word to PDF in three steps
- Open Word to PDF and add one or more .docx files.
- Under Conversion engine, choose In browser (private) or Server (exact layout). With the browser engine you can also pick the paper size: A4 or US Letter.
- Press Word to PDF and download your PDFs.
With both engines the text in the PDF is real text, so it can be searched, copied and read aloud by screen readers, and links in your document stay clickable.
Browser engine or server engine?
| In browser (private) | Server (exact layout) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | On your device – nothing is uploaded | Sent over HTTPS, converted with LibreOffice, then deleted immediately |
| What is kept | Headings, paragraphs, lists, tables and images | Your page layout, headers and footers and complex formatting |
| Fonts | A clean standard font | The document’s fonts where available, otherwise metric-compatible substitutes |
| Not reproduced | Headers, footers, columns, text boxes and tracked changes | – |
| Best for | Private or simple documents | CVs, letters and reports where the exact look matters |
When to use the browser engine
The browser engine converts the content and structure of your document without uploading it. The page layout is re-flowed with standard fonts, so line and page breaks may fall in different places than in Word. That is perfectly fine for notes, simple letters and text-based documents – and it is the right choice for anything confidential.
When to use the server engine
If your document relies on its layout – a designed CV, a letter with a letterhead in the header, a report with footers and page numbers, multiple columns or text boxes – choose the server engine. It uses LibreOffice to reproduce the page layout as closely as possible. The file is sent over an encrypted connection, converted, returned to you and deleted immediately.
If the server option is greyed out, the conversion server is not available at the moment, and only the browser engine can be used.
Tip: before converting a CV or letter, accept or reject any tracked changes in Word. The browser engine does not reproduce them, so what you see in the PDF is the plain text of the document.
Common questions before you convert
- Old .doc files are not accepted. Open them in a word processor and save them as .docx first.
- Several documents in one PDF? Convert them all, then combine the PDFs with Merge PDF.
- PDF too large to email? Documents with big photos can be shrunk with Compress PDF.
- Need to edit the PDF again later? Keep the .docx, or convert back with PDF to Word.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert Word to PDF without Microsoft Word?
Add the .docx file to Word to PDF and press the convert button. You do not need Word or any other software installed – it works in any modern browser, including on a phone.
Why does my PDF look different from my Word document?
The browser engine re-flows the layout with standard fonts and does not reproduce headers, footers, columns or text boxes. Switch to the server engine for an exact copy of your page layout.
Is it safe to convert confidential Word documents?
With the browser engine, the file never leaves your device. With the server engine, it is sent over HTTPS, converted and deleted immediately. For sensitive documents, the browser engine is the private option.