Are you one of those people who prefer to work with Google Docs, but find yourself stuck with a PDF file that you can’t edit? Well, never fear! You can easily convert PDF to Google Doc using a variety of online tools. Just follow these simple steps and you’ll be ready to edit your PDF in no time.
PDF files are created to send and view documents without worrying about compatibility issues. PDFs can be viewed on any device with a PDF reader installed, and they preserve the original formatting of the document.
However, PDFs can be difficult to edit if you don’t have the right software. Google Docs is a free, online alternative to Microsoft Word that has many of the same features. You can convert your PDF into a Google Doc by following a few simple steps.
Why Convert PDF to Google Doc?
There are many reasons why you might want to convert a PDF file into a Google Doc. Perhaps you need to edit the document but only have the PDF version, or you want to share the document with someone who doesn’t have a PDF viewer. Whatever your reason, it’s easy to convert a PDF into a Google Doc using one of the following methods.
How to Convert a PDF File Into a Google Doc
Method 1: Direct Conversion via Google Drive
This method is the simplest to convert pdf to google Docs, but note that complex formatting (tables, images, footnotes) might not convert perfectly.
Upload the PDF:
- Log in to your Google Drive.
- Click the + New button and select File Upload to upload your PDF file.
Open with Google Docs:
- Once uploaded, right-click the PDF and choose Open with > Google Docs.
- The PDF will open as an editable Google Doc in a new tab.
- Review and adjust any formatting issues that may arise.
Method 2: Convert PDF to Word First
If maintaining the original formatting is important, first convert the PDF to a Word document, then import that file into Google Docs.
Convert Using Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat:
Using Microsoft Word:
- Open Microsoft Word and click File > Open to select your PDF.
- Word will convert the PDF into an editable document.
- Save the document as a Word file.
Using Adobe Acrobat Online:
- Visit Adobe’s online PDF to Word converter, upload your PDF, and download the converted Word file.
Upload to Google Drive:
- Upload the Word document to your Google Drive.
Open with Google Docs:
- Right-click the uploaded file and select Open with > Google Docs.
- The document will be converted into a Google Doc with a higher chance of preserving original formatting.
Method 3: Use a Third-Party Converter
There are many PDF to google docs converters and one of them is iLovePDF. Online tools like iLovePDF provide free PDF-to-Word conversion with options for OCR if your PDF contains images or non-selectable text.
Convert to Word:
- Use the online tool to convert your PDF into a Word document (choose OCR if needed).
Upload and Convert:
- Follow the same steps as in Method 2: upload the Word file to Google Drive and open with Google Docs.
Tips and Considerations
Formatting Issues: Even with conversion, you might need to manually adjust formatting such as spacing, tables, or image placements.
File Size & Complexity: Large or graphically complex PDFs may not convert perfectly. In such cases, breaking the document into smaller parts or using OCR tools might help.
Review Your Document: Always review the resulting Google Doc to ensure that all content is accurately transferred and make corrections as needed.
Conclusion
If you have a PDF that you want to edit, you can easily change it into a Google Doc. You can do this by uploading your PDF to Google Drive and opening it with Google Docs. If your PDF has a lot of special formatting, you might first convert it to a Word document and then open it in Google Docs. There are also online tools like iLovePDF that can help you convert your file. Even if you need to make a few small fixes after converting, these methods let you work with your document in Google Docs quickly and easily.
