How to convert between PDF, JPG, and Word

Converting a file to the right format can matter as much as any other edit — a document that's easy to read is not always easy to send, print, or edit.

JPG to PDF

Turning photos or scanned pages into a single PDF makes them easier to print in order and to attach as one file instead of several images. Add your images in the order they should appear, since a JPG-to-PDF conversion places one image per page in the sequence you give it.

PDF to JPG

Converting a PDF page to an image is useful when you need to drop it into a slide, a webpage, or a chat where PDFs can't be previewed. Each page becomes a separate image, so pick the specific pages you actually need rather than converting a long document in full.

PDF to Word

Convert a PDF to Word when you need to edit its text rather than just read it. Conversion works best on PDFs that started as text documents; a scanned PDF may convert to an image inside the Word file rather than editable text, since there's no underlying text layer to recover.

Word to PDF

Once a document is finished, converting it to PDF locks in the layout so it looks the same on any device, regardless of what fonts the reader has installed. This is the safer format for anything you're sending to be read rather than edited.

Choosing the right direction

If you're not sure which way to convert, ask whether the recipient needs to edit the file or just read it. Editing calls for Word; a finished document to read or print calls for PDF.

Before you share the converted file

Scroll through every page of the result, not just the first one — a formatting issue introduced partway through a long document is easy to miss if you only check the top.