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Quick answer
To convert a Word document to PDF, open Zappy Word to PDF, add your DOCX, DOC, TXT or ODT file and click Convert to PDF. The PDF downloads straight away with the layout intact. If you have Word, you can also use File > Save As and choose PDF.
How to convert Word to PDF in 3 steps
This works without Microsoft Word installed, so it also helps on a Chromebook, a borrowed computer or a phone.
Add your document
Open Word to PDF and drop in a DOCX, DOC, TXT or ODT file up to 25 MB.
Convert it
Click Convert to PDF. The document is rendered page by page, so fonts, tables, images, headers and footers stay in place.
Download your PDF
The PDF downloads automatically. There is no watermark and no account.
How to save as PDF in Microsoft Word
If you already have Word, it can create the PDF itself:
- Open the document in Word.
- On Windows, choose File > Save As (or File > Export > Create PDF/XPS). On a Mac, choose File > Save As.
- Set the file type to PDF and click Save.
Both methods give the same result. The online converter is useful when Word is not installed or the file came from someone else.
How to convert a Google Doc to PDF
In Google Docs, choose File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf). To convert a Word file stored in Google Drive, open it in Docs first, or download it and use Word to PDF.
How to convert Word to PDF on iPhone or Android
On a phone, open Word to PDF in Safari or Chrome, tap the upload area and choose the document from Files or your Downloads. The PDF saves back to your phone.
The Microsoft Word mobile app can also export PDFs, but it may ask you to sign in with a Microsoft account.
How to convert a text document (TXT) to PDF
Plain text files work too. Drop a TXT file into Word to PDF and it becomes a standard letter-size PDF with readable margins, which is handy for notes, logs and code snippets you need to share or print.
Tips for a perfect PDF
- Check fonts first. Standard fonts such as Calibri, Arial and Times New Roman convert exactly. Rare custom fonts may be swapped for a close match.
- Fix page breaks in Word. The PDF follows the document's own page breaks, so tidy them before converting.
- Need to edit it again later? Keep the original Word file, or use PDF to Word to turn the PDF back into a DOCX.
- Too large to email? Shrink the PDF with Compress PDF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a Word document to PDF for free?
Open Zappy Word to PDF, add your DOCX or DOC file and click Convert to PDF. The PDF downloads straight away, with no account or watermark.
Will my formatting stay the same?
Yes. Fonts, tables, images, headers, footers and page breaks come through as they are, because each page is rendered rather than copied as plain text.
Can I convert Word to PDF without Microsoft Word?
Yes. The online converter works in any browser, so you don't need Word installed.
How do I save a Word document as a PDF on a Mac?
In Word for Mac, choose File, Save As, and set the file format to PDF. Or upload the file to Zappy Word to PDF.
Can I convert a TXT file to PDF?
Yes. Word to PDF accepts TXT and ODT files as well as DOCX and DOC.
How big can the file be?
Documents up to 25 MB can be converted.
What happens to my document?
It is converted on our server and deleted automatically afterwards. It is never shared or used for anything else.