How to Insert a PDF into Word

Inserting a PDF into a Microsoft Word document can be done in four ways depending on your goal: embed it as an object, add it as an image on a single page, paste the PDF text content as editable text, or convert the entire PDF to Word format and merge it. This guide walks through every method on Windows, Mac and Word Online — and shows when each approach works best. If you simply want a fully editable Word version of your PDF, our free PDF to Word converter (below) does it in one click without losing the original layout.

Convert a PDF to an editable Word document (.docx). Best results with text-heavy PDFs.

Whether you're attaching a contract for reference inside a report, embedding a research paper inside your thesis, adding a scanned form to your application, or converting a PDF to fully editable Word text — this page covers every scenario. The four methods below take less than 60 seconds each and work on Word 2016, 2019, 2021, Microsoft 365, Word for Mac and Word Online.

Method 1 — Insert PDF as an object (embed)

This embeds the PDF as a clickable file inside Word. Best when you want a single page icon that opens the full PDF when double-clicked.

Open Word and place the cursor where you want the PDF
Go to Insert → Object → Object…
Choose Create from File, browse to your PDF and click OK
Optionally check Display as icon

Method 2 — Insert PDF as an image (one page)

Best when the PDF is one page and you want it visible inline.

Convert the PDF page to JPG using our PDF to JPG tool
In Word, go to Insert → Pictures → This Device
Resize and position the image as needed

Method 3 — Paste editable PDF text

Word 2016+ can open PDFs and convert them automatically.

In Word, go to File → Open and select the PDF
Click OK on the conversion warning
Copy the text you need and paste into your existing document

Method 4 — Convert and merge (recommended)

The cleanest method when you want all PDF content as fully editable Word text with formatting preserved.

Use our free PDF to Word converter above
Download the .docx file
In your existing Word doc, go to Insert → Object → Text from File and select the converted .docx

Which method should you use?

Reference attachment: Method 1 (object)
Single page visible: Method 2 (image)
Quote a paragraph: Method 3 (open in Word)
Merge entire content: Method 4 (convert + insert)

How it works

1Upload your PDF to the converter above (drag & drop or click to browse).
2Wait a few seconds while the PDF is converted to a fully editable .docx file.
3Download the converted Word file to your computer.
4In your Word document, go to Insert → Object → Text from File and select the .docx — the content merges into your current page.