Common Problems with PDF Not Converting to Word Correctly
What are the common problems that often occur with the PDF files not converting to Word correctly? I have listed them below.
- Text or paragraphs are misaligned or garbled.
- Missing characters or font changes.
- Missing or misaligned images.
- Tables or lists cannot be converted correctly.
Why Can't PDF Files Be Converted to Word Format Correctly?
Knowing the causes of the problem helps us solve it at its root. Why doesn’t your PDF file convert to Word properly? This error can be caused by the following factors:
- The file is a scanned PDF. A scanned PDF is also called an image-based PDF, which can’t be searched unless you apply OCR to recognize text in the PDF file. Similarly, the scanned PDF can’t be converted to Word correctly without OCR technology.
- The PDF file is damaged. Damaged PDF files may not only fail to open correctly, but also cause problems with PDF file conversion.
- The PDF file has a complex layout and uses non-standard fonts. If your PDF file has various columns, tables, images, or unusual fonts, those elements may cause the PDF file not to convert to Word correctly. Furthermore, if the font in the PDF file is not standard, it may not be supported in Word, which can also cause improper PDF conversion.
- You use an outdated PDF to Word converter. In addition to using the right PDF documents, utilizing a proper PDF converter is also essential. The outdated PDF to Word converter may lack the OCR engine or the ability to handle complex PDF layouts, so that the PDF file can’t be converted to Word correctly.
5 Solutions to Resolve “PDF Not Converting to Word Correctly”
For this incorrect PDF to Word conversion, I have tested and found the following 5 workable solutions. Now, let’s check them one by one and try to convert PDF to Word correctly.
Solution 1. Use a Reliable PDF to Word Converter
When encountering a PDF file that is not converting to Word correctly, the most direct and easy way is to use another reliable PDF converter. I have listed 4 useful PDF to Word converters for your reference:
- Option 1. SwifDoo PDF – an offline and cost-effective way
- Option 2. Adobe Acrobat – an offline and professional PDF tool, but requires expensive subscription fees
- Option 3. iLovePDF – an online and free PDF converter
- Option 4. Smallpdf – an online PDF converter with only a 7-day free trial
You can choose offline or online tools based on your needs. Though online tools don’t require downloading or installing any software, they require a stable and powerful Internet connection. Offline tools are suitable for you who prioritize personal information and document security.
I have used SwifDoo PDF many times and found it’s really for PDF conversion and editing. This excellemt PDF converter can convert PDF to Word without losing formatting. In addition to supporting the conversion of PDF to Word, SwifDoo PDF can also convert PDF to Excel, HTML, EPUB, PPT, and other formats. You can follow the steps below to convert a PDF to Word correctly using SwifDoo PDF.
Step 1. Launch this PDF converter once it is installed on your PC.
Step 2. Choose the PDF to Word option from the Popular Tools menu.
Step 3. Click the Add Files option to import the target PDF file. As a batch PDF to Word converter, SwifDoo PDF enables you to import several PDF files and convert them to Word at once.
Step 4. Click the Settings option. Here, you can tick the “Enable OCR and all content can be edited (Recommended)” option. You can also adjust the settings for annotations, images, and others. Next, click OK.
Optionally, you can open the Format list to choose to convert the PDF to DOCX, DOC, or RTF. Meanwhile, select a folder to save the converted Word file.
Step 5. Click Start to initiate the PDF to Word conversion task.
Solution 2. Enable OCR for the Scanned PDF
From the above, we know that directly converting a scanned PDF to Word may fail since the text in the PDF file can’t be recognized correctly. In that case, you need to use a tool with an OCR engine. In the first solution, I have also mentioned the step to convert PDF to Word with OCR using SwifDoo PDF. Hence, SwifDoo PDF is a good choice.
Additionally, you can give Adobe Acrobat a try if you have sufficient budget. What’s more, you can also upload the scanned PDF to Google Drive and open the PDF with Google Docs. Then, Google Docs will automatically OCR the PDF. Finally, you can save it as a Word file.
Solution 3. Edit and Proof the PDF Document Before Converting
If you still want to use your current PDF converter, you need to use the right PDF document. First, make sure that there are no complex layouts or non-standard fonts in your PDF file. If there are any common errors in the original PDF file, like incorrect words, superfluous spaces, or low-quality images, you need to proofread them.
In that case, a useful and reliable PDF editor is necessary. Adobe Acrobat is worth a try. Also, you can try an Adobe Acrobat alternative, like SwifDoo PDF, to proofread a PDF. Moreover, SwifDoo PDF enables you to OCR PDFs effectively.
Solution 4. Repair the Corrupted PDF Document
What’s more, you need to make sure that your PDF file is not damaged. To check the file corruption, you can open the PDF file in a PDF reader, such as Adobe Reader, SwifDoo PDF, or others. If you can’t open the PDF file in these PDF readers, it indicates that the PDF file is corrupted. You need to use a PDF repair tool to repair the damaged PDF file. iLovePDF is a good choice.
Step 1. Go to the Repair PDF website of iLovePDF and click the Select PDF file button to import the damaged PDF file.
Step 2. Click the Repair PDF button. Once the repairing process is over, download this repaired PDF file.
Solution 5. Update Your PDF Converter to the Latest Version
The last solution you can try is to check if you are using the up-to-date version of the PDF converter. If it isn’t, just try to update it to the latest version and perform the PDF to Word conversion task again. If it still doesn’t work, try using SwifDoo PDF or other PDF converters to perform the PDF to Word conversion.
Final Thoughts
Due to certain reasons, such as scanned PDF files or outdated PDF converters, PDF files may not convert correctly to Word. To solve the “PDF not converting to Word correctly” error, you can solve the error from two aspects: the PDF file or the converter. If you only want to use your current PDF converter, prepare a well-formatted PDF file for conversion and update the converter to its latest version. If you prefer more effective ways, try SwifDoo PDF or other reliable PDF to Word converters.
