When someone hands you a PDF and you need to actually edit it — fix a typo, update last quarter's numbers, swap in a new paragraph — getting it back into Word is the unblocker. PDFly converts PDF straight to .docx without leaving the browser.
Two paths: free "Selectable text only" pulls out the underlying text layer (fast, accurate text, simpler layout), or Premium "Preserve formatting" runs a server-side pass that rebuilds fonts, columns, tables, and inline images as proper Word objects. The walkthrough below uses the free mode; the section after explains when to upgrade.
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Step 1 — Open the Convert tool
Open the Convert tool. You'll see the upload screen titled "Convert PDF".
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Step 2 — Upload your PDF
Click "Choose Files" and pick the PDF you want as a Word document — or drag it onto the page. PDFly accepts any selectable-text PDF: a contract, a report, a research paper, an invoice. Scanned PDFs need OCR first.
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Step 3 — Pick the Word format
In the sidebar, click the "Word" format. PDFly will reveal two output modes: a free "Selectable text only" extraction, and a Premium "Preserve formatting" pass that keeps the layout intact.
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Step 4 — Choose a conversion mode
"Selectable text only" pulls the underlying text layer straight into a .docx — fast, accurate text, simple layout. "Preserve formatting" runs a server-side pass that recreates fonts, columns, tables, and inline images as native Word elements. Pick whichever matches what you'll do with the file.
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Step 5 — Run the conversion
Click the convert button at the bottom of the sidebar. PDFly walks the PDF's text layer, rebuilds it as paragraphs and headings, and packages the result as a single .docx — usually a few seconds for a typical document.
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Step 6 — Download the Word file
When the conversion finishes, the result panel shows the new .docx with its file name and size. Click "Download" to save it locally — open it directly in Word, Google Docs, or Pages.
