How to convert a Word document to PDF
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You have a document in Word and you are asked to send it as a PDF. It happens constantly: a CV, a contract, a piece of coursework. Converting it takes under a minute, it is free and there is nothing to install. I will walk you through it, and at the end I will tell you two things: why sending a PDF beats sending a Word file, and in which case you need no website at all because your own program already does it.
Go to iLovePDF
Open your browser and go to i love p d f.com. If it comes up in another language, you can change it from the top right corner. This is the home page with all the tools. The one we want now is Word to PDF. And there we are.
Upload your Word document
Click the red button that says "Select WORD files". Notice it is plural: you can upload several documents at once and it converts them all. Pick your file, or drag it straight onto the red box. It works with both the modern .docx and the older .doc files.
Click "Convert to PDF"
And there is nothing else to decide here. Unlike other tools, this one has no options: no levels, no modes. Just click the red button on the right that says "Convert to PDF". It takes a few seconds, depending on how long the document is.
Download the PDF
And that is it. The download button appears and the PDF is saved to your downloads folder. Just like in the other tools, next to it you have the icons to send it to Google Drive or Dropbox, to create a link to share it, or to delete it from the server right away.
Why sending a PDF is better
Now, why it is worth converting it rather than just sending the Word file. Three reasons. First: a PDF looks the same on any device, with the same layout and the same fonts; a Word file can shift around on someone else's computer. Second: a PDF does not get edited by accident, so nobody is going to change a figure in your contract without meaning to. And third: it opens on any phone without needing Word installed.
When you need no website at all
And now what almost no tutorial will tell you, because it is not in their interest. If you have Word installed on your computer, you do not need any website for this. Open the document, go to File, Save As, and under file type choose PDF. That is it. In Google Docs it is the same: File, Download, PDF Document. And it has an important advantage: your document never leaves your computer. If you are converting a contract with personal data, that is the right way to do it. Websites like this one are for when you do not have Word to hand, you are on a borrowed computer, or you have to convert several files at once.
What happens to your files
And the usual about your files. When you use the website, your document is uploaded to a server so it can be converted, and it is deleted there automatically after a few hours. For coursework or a CV there is no problem. For a contract with bank details, use the method above and upload nothing. And if you do upload it, click the bin when you are done to wipe it there and then.
And that is all: a Word document turned into a PDF, free and in under a minute. Remember: if you have Word installed, do it from there and upload nothing. And if you do not, this website gets you out of trouble.
Common questions
Can I convert Word to PDF without using any website?
Yes, and it is the better option if you have the program installed. In Word: File, Save As, and choose PDF under file type. In Google Docs: File, Download, PDF Document. In LibreOffice: File, Export as PDF. As well as being faster, your document never leaves your computer, which matters a lot if it contains personal data.
Does the formatting stay exactly the same?
Almost always yes, which is the whole point of a PDF. The only thing that can change are unusual fonts: if your document uses a typeface the converter does not have, it substitutes a similar one and the text may take up slightly different space. With ordinary fonts — Arial, Calibri, Times — there is no problem at all.
Does it work with old .doc files?
Yes, the tool takes both the modern .docx and the .doc files from older versions of Word. If you have a very old document and it errors out, open it first in Word or Google Docs, save it as .docx, and convert it after that.
Can I convert several documents at once?
Yes. The button says so in the plural: it takes several files at a time and converts them all in one go. If there are several, the result comes back as a zip.
Can I turn the PDF back into Word?
Yes, with the PDF to Word tool on the same site. But bear in mind the way back is not perfect: the text comes across in full, but the layout can shift around. If you are going to keep editing the document, always keep the original Word file rather than relying on rebuilding it from the PDF.
Is it safe to upload a contract?
If it contains personal or bank details, better not to upload it: convert it from Word itself, which sends nothing anywhere. If you do use the website, the file travels encrypted, is processed on the iLovePDF server and is deleted automatically after a few hours; click the bin icon when you are done to wipe it there and then.
