How to Convert Word Files to PDF Format

This article shows you how to convert Microsoft Word documents to PDF format. PDF files are compatible with almost any interface and are difficult to edit, suitable for storing and sending important documents. You can use SmallPDF or Gopge Drive to convert Word documents to PDF online, or use Microsoft Word on your Windows or Mac computer.

Table of Contents

Using Word on Windows

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/8b/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-15-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-15-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 8/8b/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-15-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-15-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:346,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:547,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Open the Microsoft Word document. Double-click the Word document to view the content on Microsoft Word.

If you haven’t created a document, open Word, then click Blank document and create the document as you like before continuing.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/03/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-16-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-16-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 0/03/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-16-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-16-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:342,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:541,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click File in the upper-left corner of the Word window and a new window will appear on the screen.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/44/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-17-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-17-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 4/44/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-17-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-17-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click Export in the left selection column. You will see many new options appear in the middle of the window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/f1/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-18-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-18-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ f/f1/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-18-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-18-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:349,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:552,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click Create PDF/XPS Document in the upper-left corner of the window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/0e/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-19-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-19-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 0/0e/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-19-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-19-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:349,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:552,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click the Create PDF/XPS option in the middle of the window and another window will appear on the screen.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/06/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-20-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-20-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 0/06/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-20-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-20-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:348,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:550,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Choose where to save the file. You click a folder on the left side of the window to save the converted Word file to PDF format.

Since PDF is a different format than Word, you can save the PDF file in the same folder as the Word file.
You can also enter a new file name in the “File name” box, if you like.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/c9/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-21-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-21-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ c/c9/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-21-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-21-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:348,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:550,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click Publish in the lower-right corner of the window. This will create a PDF of the Word document in the selected folder.

Use Word on Mac

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/7d/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-22-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-22-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 7/7d/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-22-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-22-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:344,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:545,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Open the Microsoft Word document. Double-click the Word document to view the content on Microsoft Word.

If you haven’t created a document, open Word, then click Blank document and create the document as you like before continuing.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/62/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-23-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-23-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 6/62/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-23-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-23-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:346,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:547,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click File in the upper-left corner of your Mac screen to open a selection list.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/56/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-24-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-24-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 5/56/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-24-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-24-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:346,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:547,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click the Save As… option in the pop-up menu. A new window will appear on the screen.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/53/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-25-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-25-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 5/53/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-25-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-25-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Enter the file name. Type the PDF file name of your choice in the “Name” field at the top of the window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/69/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-26-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-26-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 6/69/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-26-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-26-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Select the folder to save the file. You click a folder on the left side of the window to save the PDF file.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/c5/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-27-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-27-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ c/c5/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-27-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-27-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click the “File Format” box at the bottom of the window to open a selection list.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/cc/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-28-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-28-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ c/cc/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-28-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-28-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:347,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:549,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click the PDF selection in the “Export” section of the selection list.

You will have to scroll down the selection list to see this option.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/59/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-29-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-29-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 5/59/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-29-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-29-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click the blue Export button in the lower-right corner of the window. This will save your PDF file in the selected folder.

Using SmallPDF

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e5/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-1-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-1-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ e/e5/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-1-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-1-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Open SmallPDF’s Word to PDF conversion page by visiting https://smallpdf.com/word-to-pdf on your computer’s browser.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/73/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-2-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-2-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 7/73/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-2-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-2-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:342,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:541,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click Choose file in the middle of the SmallPDF page. This will open a File Explorer (on Windows) or a Finder (on Mac) window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/67/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-3-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-3-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 6/67/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-3-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-3-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:349,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:552,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Select the Word document. Go to the folder where the Word document is saved, then you select it by clicking on the document.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/f5/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-4-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-4-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ f/f5/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-4-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-4-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:349,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:552,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click Open in the lower-right corner of the window to upload the Word document to SmallPDF.

On a Mac, you’ll click Choose .

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/5c/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-5-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-5-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 5/5c/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-5-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-5-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:344,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:544,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click the Download File option at the bottom left corner of the SmallPDF page. The PDF file will be downloaded to your computer, but sometimes you need to select a save folder and/or confirm the download depending on your browser’s settings.

It will take a few seconds for this option to appear if your Word file is large or your Internet connection is slow.

Using Google Drive

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/df/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-6-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-6-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ d/df/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-6-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-6-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:346,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:548,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Open Google Drive. Go to https://drive.google.com/ with a desktop web browser to open your Google Drive page (if signed in).

If you’re not signed in, click Go to Google Drive , then enter your email address and password when prompted.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/4c/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-7-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-7-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 4/4c/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-7-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-7-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:348,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:551,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click ＋ New at the top left of the Google Drive window and you’ll see a selection list.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/59/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-8-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-8-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 5/59/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-8-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-8-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:344,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:545,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click File upload in the menu that appears. This will bring up a File Explorer (on Windows) or a Finder (on Mac) window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/29/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-9-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-9-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 2/29/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-9-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-9-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:349,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:552,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Select your Word document. Go to the folder where the Word document is saved, you choose by clicking on the document.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/3b/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-10-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-10-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 3/3b/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-10-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-10-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:349,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:552,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Click Open in the lower-right corner of the window. The Words file will be uploaded to Google Drive.

On a Mac, you’ll click Choose .

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/24/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-11-Version-4.jpg/ v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-11-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 2/24/Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format-Step-11-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Convert-a-Microsoft-Word-Document-to-PDF-Format- Step-11-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:350,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:554,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Open the Word file. When the Word file is uploaded to Google Drive, you double-click it in Google Drive to open it in the browser.

Advice

To open a PDF file with your computer’s default PDF reader, simply double-click the file; if there are multiple PDF readers, you will be asked to choose one after double-clicking the PDF file.
You can also use the “Save as” option to convert Word files to PDF on Windows computers.

Warning

When converting important documents (such as credit card information), you should avoid using SmallPDF. Although their site is secure, it’s best to keep these files offline.

Steps