How to Copy Text from a PDF to Word | 3 Ways Included

There are times that you need to edit PDF content but only to find that you can do nothing to it. Whether you're modifying text, formatting, adding or deleting content, collaborating on documents with others, or reusing content, it can be frustrating when you can't simply copy and paste the text. Don't worry, you're not alone.

This article is going to help people who are in the same dilemma. This article will guide you through three simple and handy methods, telling you how to copy text from a PDF to Word document. No matter you're using a Windows or a Mac computer, or prefer to use an online tool, you can find a way in this article.

The first method introduced here is for Windows users. If you're looking for a free and easy-to-use PDF editor that can help you copy text from a PDF to Word, then look no further than iTop PDF. This multifunctional tool offers a full PDF editing solution, allowing you to edit PDF files with one click just like Word allowing you to make the PDF editing process as easy as on a Word document. If you want to know how to convert PDF to Word without losing formatting, iTop PDF can also help you solve the problem in seconds.

Are you interested in iTop PDF now? Here are some other features that further prove it is an excellent choice for how to copy PDF text into Word:

• 100% Free to Use: What iTop PDF enables you to do is not just copy highlighted text from PDF to Word, but to do it without paying anything. It is completely free to use and you don’t need to worry about any hidden fees or charges.

• Make PDF Editable in One-Click: iTop PDF offers a user-friendly interface that makes editing PDFs as easy as editing a Word document. With just one click, you can add, edit, or modify text, images, and other elements in your PDF, you can also add watermark to PDF.

• Convert PDF with No Quality Loss: If you need to convert a PDF to a Word document, iTop PDF can do it quickly and accurately. It preserves the original formatting and won’t sacrifice the image quality in your PDF.

• Combine or Split PDF Without Limit: iTop PDF also allows you to combine multiple PDFs into one document or split a large PDF into smaller files. There's no limit to the number of PDFs you can combine or split, so you can work with as many documents as you need. Even if you want to delete pages from PDF, you can rely on iTop PDF.

As you can see, iTop PDF is a powerful and versatile PDF editor that can help you copy text from a PDF to Word and perform a wide range of other PDF-related tasks. It is an excellent choice for anyone who works with PDFs on a regular basis. 

How to Copy and Paste from a PDF to Word with iTop PDF

Follow the steps here to see how to copy text from PDF to Word in three simple steps.

Step 1. Click the Download button here to download and install iTop PDF on your computer.

What makes iTop PDF a must-have software?

• Edit PDF smoothly without hassle
• Convert PDF to any format in high quality
• Split and Merge PDF files easily and quickly
• Add e-signature effortlessly to your PDF

Free Download

Step 2. Click Open PDF to open the PDF file you want to edit.

Step 3. Switch to the Edit tab, select the content you want, click the Copy button or press Ctrl + C to copy. 

That's it, now you can paste the selected content to a Word document or any other place. 

The next method is for Mac users. It is lucky for Mac users to have a built-in tool - Preview, to edit PDF documents. Follow the steps here to see how to copy and paste from a PDF to Word with Preview.

Step 1. Open the PDF document in Preview.

Step 2. Choose Tools > Text Selection, drag over the text you want to copy, then choose Edit > Copy.

Step 3. Open the Word document and paste the copied PDF content to it.

That's how to copy and paste a PDF file into Word with Mac Preview. You should note that if the PDF document contains images or other non-text elements, you won't be able to copy and paste those elements into Word using this method. Only the text in the document can be copied and pasted.

If you don't have access to any of the PDF readers or don't want to download any PDF editor, it is a good idea to try an online PDF tool. iTop PDF does not only design a desktop PDF editor but also has an online PDF converter. Follow the three-step guide here to see how to copy text from PDF online:

Step 1. Go to iTop's online PDF converter and upload your PDF file to it.

Step 2. Wait for the converter to convert your PDF into a Word file.

Step 3. Download and open the converted file, select the text, and copy and paste the text into your Word document.

With iTop's online PDF converter, you can also compress PDF online with simple clicks. While this method is convenient, it may not preserve the formatting of the original PDF file. Additionally, some online PDF-to-text converters may have file size limits or require you to sign up for a paid account to extract text from large PDF files. It is still recommended that you download and try a free and more powerful PDF editor - iTop PDF.

1. Why can't I copy text from PDF to Word?

One possible reason is that the PDF file is scanned and not a text-based PDF. Scanned PDFs are essentially images of text and cannot be edited or copied like regular text. Another reason could be that the PDF is password-protected or has restrictions that prevent copying. In this case, you will need to remove the password or restrictions before you can copy the text.

2. Is there a way to preserve formatting when copying text from PDF to Word?

Yes, there are ways you can preserve the PDF formatting. You can use a PDF converter like iTop PDF to convert the PDF to a Word document while keeping the formatting.

3. Can I copy scanned PDF text into Word?

Scanned PDFs are images of text, so you will need to use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to convert the image into editable text. iTop PDF is the one that can help you convert scanned PDFs into editable text.

The Bottom Line

This is all about how to copy text from a PDF to Word. This article covers three methods to help solve this problem and make the converting and editing process easier. Using desktop PDF software like iTop PDF or Preview on a Mac can be a valid and reliable solution. Another option is to use online tools to quickly get the job done. In all, choosing the right method and the right tool can make editing a PDF document much easier. As a powerful and easy-to-use PDF editor, it is strongly suggested you download and try iTop PDF.