How to Convert Word to PDF for Free?

Converting Word to PDF can be done with an office application or an online converter. Choose Word if you already have it, use Google Docs for an online office workflow, or consider an online converter when uploading the document is appropriate.

LeoPDFree does not support Word-to-PDF conversion. PDF-to-Word is a separate conversion in the opposite direction.

1. Convert Word to PDF within Word

If you have Microsoft Word on your computer, the best way to convert your Word doc into PDF is by using the software. This is the easiest method considering that you will probably have the Word Doc you intend to convert to PDF already open in the software.

Step 1: If the Word Doc you would like to convert to PDF is not already
open, open it.

Step 2: After the document opens in the Word software, tap File on the
top-left corner.

Step 3: Choose Save As or Save a Copy, depending on the Word version and whether the document has already been saved.

Step 4: Choose a location for the PDF. For a file you want to keep on your computer, select a local folder.

Step 5: Select the drop-down arrow available to the right-hand side of
the Save as type box. Scroll through the available formats and then select the “PDF
(*.pdf)”.

Step 6: If you would like to give the file a different name, simply
enter the new name above the textbox where you just selected the file format.

Step 7: Save the PDF, then open it and compare it with the editable document. Whether it opens automatically depends on the export options.

See Microsoft’s PDF export instructions. Existing access to Word is separate from the export operation; this method does not mean the desktop Word application is free.

2. Using Google Drive and Google Docs

It is possible to upload a Word document to Google Drive, convert
it to a Google Doc and then convert it to PDF. This solution is ideal for
people whose Word documents are generally simple and filled with just text,
without a lot of formatting.

This is an online workflow and uploads the document to Google’s service. Check that this processing is appropriate for your file before proceeding.

1. Sign in to Google Drive and use its file-upload option to upload the Word document.
2. Open it with Google Docs. Review the document and any formatting changes.
3. Choose File > Download and select PDF Document.
4. Open the downloaded PDF and check the result.

Google explains working with Office files and downloading a document in its help pages. Keep the original Word file if you need an editable source.

3. Free online converters

Using Smallpdf

To use Smallpdf’s Word-to-PDF tool, upload the Word document, allow conversion to complete and download the PDF. Check current limits and account requirements before relying on it for multiple files.

An online converter receives the uploaded file. Do not assume it uses the same processing or deletion policy as LeoPDF, and avoid general promises that every online service has no privacy risk, no size limit or unlimited free use.

Check the converted PDF

Compare page breaks, fonts, tables, links and images with the source. If the layout changes, correct the source document or choose another export method and check again. Keep the original rather than overwriting your only editable copy.

For the reverse conversion, read our PDF-to-Word article. It explains the different local and OCR workflows without claiming Word-to-PDF support.

Questions about LeoPDF?

Contact xuehui@leopdf.com with your platform and a description of your question.