Most Word to PDF problems come from the file type, from a document that is protected or damaged, or from characters the output font does not contain. Each one has a short fix.
Use the table to find yours.
On this page
Key takeaways
- Only .docx files are supported. Older .doc files must be saved as .docx first.
- Password-protected and damaged documents cannot be read.
- The built-in font covers Western European letters, so other alphabets may not display.
- Word's own Save as PDF handles all of these cases.
Problems at a glance
| What you see | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The file will not upload | It is .doc, .odt or another type | Save as .docx first |
| Conversion failed message | Damaged or password-protected file | Repair it, or remove the password in Word |
| The PDF is nearly empty | Content is in images or text boxes | Use Save as PDF in Word |
| Boxes or odd symbols instead of letters | Characters missing from the font | Use Save as PDF in Word |
| Images missing | Images are not converted | Use Save as PDF in Word |
| Looks plain | Only text is converted | See what is kept |
Older .doc and other formats
The tool reads the modern .docx format. In Word, choose File, Save As and pick Word Document (.docx). LibreOffice and Google Docs can also save or download as .docx. Then add the new file.
Protected or damaged documents
A document that asks for a password to open cannot be read. Open it in Word, remove the password under File, Info, Protect Document, save a copy and convert that. A damaged file may open in Word's repair mode, after which you can save a clean copy.
Other alphabets and symbols
The converter writes text in a standard PDF font that covers Western European languages. Letters from Arabic, Hebrew, Cyrillic, Greek, Chinese, Japanese or Korean, along with many symbols and emoji, may appear as boxes, question marks or garbled text. For those documents use the Save as PDF command in your word processor, which embeds the right fonts.
Text boxes, images and shapes
Content placed in text boxes, shapes or as pictures of text is not plain paragraph text, so it is not converted. A flyer built from boxes can come out almost empty. Again, Save as PDF is the answer. Afterwards you can reduce the size with Compress PDF or secure it with Protect PDF.
Word to PDF problems: FAQ
Why can't I upload my .doc file?
The tool only reads .docx. Save the document as .docx first.
Can it convert a password-protected document?
No. Remove the password in Word, save a copy and convert that.
Why are some letters shown as boxes?
The output font does not contain them. Use Save as PDF in your word processor.
Why is my PDF almost empty?
The content is in text boxes or images, which are not converted.
Does it work with Google Docs files?
Download the document as .docx from Google Docs, then convert it, or use Google Docs' own PDF download.
What is the file size limit?
The uploader states 50 MB.
Can I convert several files?
One at a time.
Is anything uploaded?
No. It runs in your browser.
Can it convert .docm files with macros?
Save a copy as .docx first. The macros are not needed for the PDF.
Right format, then right tool
Save as .docx, remove passwords and use your word processor's PDF export for anything with special characters or layout.
