How to Insert a PDF into Word — 4 Easy Methods (2026)
By PDFKits Team — Published July 2, 2026
Method 1 — Insert PDF as an Embedded Object
The most straightforward way to insert a PDF into a Word document is as an embedded object. This method places the PDF as an attachment inside your Word file that readers can double-click to open:
Open your Word document and place your cursor where you want the PDF to appear.
Go to the Insert tab in the ribbon.
Click Object in the Text group (on some versions, click the dropdown arrow next to Object and select "Object...").
In the Object dialog, click the Create from File tab.
Click Browse and navigate to your PDF file. Select it and click Insert.
Optionally, check Display as icon if you want the PDF to appear as a clickable icon rather than showing the first page.
Click OK to insert the PDF.
Important limitation: This method only displays the first page of the PDF as a preview in the Word document. The full PDF is embedded and can be opened by double-clicking, but only page one is visible inline. If you need to show specific pages, consider using PDFKits Split PDF to extract individual pages first, then embed each one separately.
Method 2 — Open PDF Directly in Word (Editable Text)
If you want to know how to open a pdf in word for editing, Word 2013 and later versions can open PDF files directly and convert them to editable Word format:
Open Microsoft Word.
Go to File → Open.
Navigate to your PDF file. You may need to change the file type filter to "All Files" or "PDF Files" to see it.
Select the PDF and click Open.
Word will display a message saying it will convert the PDF to an editable document. Click OK.
The PDF content appears as editable text and images in your Word document.
This conversion works best with text-heavy PDFs. Documents with complex layouts, tables, or graphics may not convert perfectly — some formatting may shift or change. For PDFs with complex layouts, Method 3 (insert as image) often produces better visual results.
Method 3 — Insert PDF as Image
For preserving the exact visual appearance of a PDF page inside your Word document, convert the PDF to images first and then insert those images:
Upload your PDF file. The tool converts each page to a high-resolution image.
Download the images (one image per page).
In Word, go to Insert → Pictures → This Device.
Select the image files and click Insert.
Resize the images as needed to fit your page layout.
This method guarantees that the PDF content looks exactly as it does in the original file. The downside is that the text in the images is not editable — it becomes a picture. This is the best method for inserting contracts, certificates, or designed documents where preserving the exact visual layout is critical.
Method 4 — Convert PDF to Word Format
For full editing capability, convert the entire PDF to a Word document and then copy the content you need:
Open the converted file and select the content you want (Ctrl+A for all, or select specific sections).
Copy (Ctrl+C) and paste (Ctrl+V) into your target Word document.
This gives you fully editable text, images, and formatting that you can modify as needed. It is the best option when you need to incorporate PDF content into your document and make changes to it.
How to Insert PDF into Word on Mac
All four methods work on Mac with minor differences in keyboard shortcuts and menu locations:
Embedded Object: Insert → Object → From File. The dialog looks slightly different but functions the same way.
Open in Word: File → Open → select PDF. Word for Mac performs the same conversion as the Windows version.
As Image: Use PDFKits PDF to JPG in Safari, then Insert → Pictures → Picture from File.
Convert to Word: Use PDFKits PDF to Word in Safari, then copy-paste content between documents.
On Mac, use Cmd instead of Ctrl for all keyboard shortcuts (Cmd+C for copy, Cmd+V for paste, Cmd+A for select all).
Which Method Should You Use?
Each method serves a different purpose. Choose based on what you need to accomplish:
Embedded Object — Best when you want to attach the PDF as a reference document. The recipient can double-click to open the full PDF. Use this for appendices, supporting documents, or attachments.
Open in Word — Best when you want to edit the text content of the PDF directly. Works well for text-heavy documents like articles, reports, and letters.
Insert as Image — Best when preserving the exact visual layout is the priority. Ideal for certificates, designed documents, and forms where appearance matters more than editability.
Convert to Word — Best when you need full editing control over the PDF content and want to integrate it seamlessly into your document. Suitable for merging content from multiple sources.
You can also combine methods. For example, embed the full PDF as an object for reference, while also inserting key pages as images for quick visual reference. Use PDFKits Edit PDF to make changes to the PDF before inserting it, or PDFKits Merge PDF to combine multiple PDFs before conversion.
How to Insert a PDF into a Word Document Without Losing Formatting
Formatting loss is the biggest challenge when inserting PDFs into Word. Here are proven strategies to minimize or eliminate formatting issues:
Use the image method: Converting to images preserves formatting perfectly because the layout becomes a picture. This is the most reliable approach for visually complex PDFs.
Export at high DPI: When converting PDF to images, use the highest resolution available. This ensures text remains crisp and readable even when the image is resized in Word.
Convert fonts: If using the Word conversion method, ensure that the fonts used in the PDF are installed on your computer. Missing fonts cause the most visible formatting differences.
Check page size: Make sure your Word document page size matches the PDF page size. A mismatch causes content to reflow and shift.
Use Paste Special: When pasting converted content, use Paste Special (Ctrl+Alt+V) and choose "Keep Source Formatting" to preserve as much of the original styling as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I insert a PDF into a Word doc?
Go to Insert → Object → Create from File → Browse, select your PDF, and click OK. This embeds the PDF as an object showing the first page. For editable text, use File → Open and select the PDF directly. For exact visual layout, convert the PDF to images with PDFKits PDF to JPG first.
How do I open a PDF in Word without changing format?
To preserve exact formatting, convert the PDF to images using PDFKits PDF to JPG and insert the images into Word. Opening a PDF directly in Word (File → Open) will convert it to editable text but may alter some formatting elements like spacing, fonts, and layout.
Can I insert a multi-page PDF into Word?
The embedded object method shows only the first page inline (though the full PDF is attached). To display all pages, convert the PDF to images with PDFKits PDF to JPG and insert each page image separately, or convert to Word format with PDFKits PDF to Word and paste all the content.
How do I insert a PDF into a Word document on Mac?
On Mac, go to Insert → Object → From File and select your PDF. The process is nearly identical to Windows. You can also convert the PDF to images or Word format using PDFKits tools in Safari, then insert or paste the content into your Word document.
How do I attach a PDF to a Word document?
Use Insert → Object → Create from File → Browse. Check the "Display as icon" option to show the PDF as a clickable icon attachment rather than a page preview. Recipients can double-click the icon to open the full PDF in their PDF reader.