This wikiHow teaches you how to create a PDF version of a Microsoft Word document. PDF files can be opened on most platforms and are difficult to edit making them suitable for storing and sending important documents. You can use SmallPDF or Google Drive to convert a Word document into a PDF file online, or you can use Microsoft Word itself on a Windows or Mac computer to convert the file.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Using SmallPDF
Step 1. Open the Word-to-PDF website from SmallPDF
Visit https://smallpdf.com/word-to-pdf via a computer web browser.
Step 2. Click Choose file
It's in the middle of the SmallPDF page. Once clicked, a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window will appear.
Step 3. Select the Word document
Go to the directory where the Word document you want to convert is stored, and click the document to select it.
Step 4. Click Open
It's in the lower-right corner of the file browsing window. After that, the Word document will be uploaded to SmallPDF.
On Mac computers, you need to click the “ Choose ”.
Step 5. Click Download File
It's in the lower-left corner of the SmallPDF page. The converted PDF file will be downloaded to your computer. You may need to select a save location and/or confirm the download, depending on your browser settings.
It may take a few seconds for the options to appear if the Word document you want to convert is large or your internet connection is slow
Method 2 of 4: Using Google Drive
Step 1. Open Google Drive
Visit https://drive.google.com/ through your computer's web browser. After that, the Google Drive page will open if you are already signed in to your account.
If not, click " Go to Google Drive ”, then enter your email address and password when prompted.
Step 2. Click New
It's in the upper-left corner of the Google Drive window. Once clicked, a drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Click File upload
This option is in the drop-down menu. A File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window will appear next.
Step 4. Select the Word document
Go to the directory where the Word document you want to convert is stored, and click the document to select it.
Step 5. Click Open
It's in the lower-right corner of the file browsing window. After that, the Word document will be uploaded to Google Drive.
On a Mac computer, click “ Choose ”.
Step 6. Open the Word document
Once the Word file has finished uploading to Google Drive, double-click the file in Google Drive to open it in a browser window.
Step 7. Click File
It's in the upper-left corner of the window. Once clicked, a drop-down menu will appear.
On Mac computers, make sure you click the “ File ” in a browser window, and open it in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 8. Select Download as
It's in the middle of the drop-down menu. Once selected, a pop-out menu will be displayed.
Step 9. Click PDF document
It's in the pop-out menu. The PDF version of the uploaded Word document will immediately download to your computer.
You may need to confirm the download and/or select a save directory before the file is downloaded, depending on your browser settings
Method 3 of 4: Using Word on a Windows Computer
Step 1. Open a Microsoft Word document
Double-click the Word document you want to convert to open it in a Microsoft Word window.
If the document has not been created, open Word, click “ Blank documents ”, and create the necessary documents before continuing.
Step 2. Click File
It's in the upper-left corner of the Word window. After that, a pop-out window will be displayed.
Step 3. Click Export
It's in the left column of options. You can see several new options displayed in the middle of the window.
Step 4. Click Create PDF/XPS Document
It's in the upper-left corner of the window.
Step 5. Click Create PDF/XPS
It's in the middle of the window. Once clicked, a pop-up window will be displayed.
Step 6. Select a storage location
On the left side of the window, click the folder where you want to save the PDF version of the opened Word file.
- Because PDFs are a different type of file than Word documents, you can save them in the same directory as Word files.
- You can also enter a new file name in the " File name " field if you wish.
Step 7. Click Publish
It's in the lower-right corner of the window. After that, a PDF copy of the selected Word document will be saved in the specified location.
Method 4 of 4: Using Word on a Mac
Step 1. Open a Microsoft Word document
Double-click the Word document you want to convert to open it in a Microsoft Word window.
If the document has not been created, open Word, click “ Blank documents ”, and create the necessary documents before continuing.
Step 2. Click File
This menu is in the upper-left corner of your computer screen. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Click Save As…
This option is displayed in the drop-down menu. After that, a new window will open.
Step 4. Enter a file name
Type whatever you want to use as the PDF file name into the " Name " text field at the top of the window.
Step 5. Choose a save location
On the left side of the window, click the folder you want to set as the directory for saving the PDF file.
Step 6. Click the "File Format" box
This box is at the bottom of the window. Once clicked, a drop-down menu will appear.
Step 7. Click PDF
It's in the "Export" section of the drop-down menu.
You may need to scroll through the drop-down menu to see these options
Step 8. Click Export
It's a blue button in the lower-right corner of the window. After that, the PDF file will be saved in the specified location.
Tips
- To open a PDF file in your computer's main PDF reader, simply double-click the file icon. If you have more than one PDF reader, you will be prompted to select the program you want to use after double-clicking the file icon.
- You can also use the " Save as " menu to convert a Word document to a PDF file on a Windows computer.
