• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

  • Microsoft Word
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • PowerPoint
  • Writing
  • Editing

How to Insert PDFs into Microsoft Word Documents (PC & Mac)

By Erin Wright

Desktop computer with text overlay "How to Insert PDFs into Microsoft Word Documents"This tutorial shows how to insert PDFs into Microsoft Word documents. Once inserted, the PDFs’ text and images will become editable parts of the Word documents.

Important Notes:

  • The inserted PDF won’t retain a connection to the original PDF.
  • The inserted PDF’s formatting may change in the Word document.
  • Interactive PDF elements, such as those found in forms, won’t be inserted into the Word document.

This tutorial is available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

Watch more than 150 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.

The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365 and Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac. These steps also apply to Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013.

How to Insert PDFs into Microsoft Word Documents

  1. Place your cursor in the Word document where you want to insert the PDF.
Cursor inserted in text in Word 365
Figure 1. Cursor inserted in text
  1. Select the Insert tab in the ribbon.
Insert tab in Word 365
Figure 2. Insert tab
  1. Select the Object menu arrow in the Text group.
Object menu arrow in the Insert tab in Word 365
Figure 3. Object menu arrow
  1. Select Text from File from the drop-down menu.
Text from File option in the Insert tab in Word 365
Figure 4. Text from File option
  1. Locate and select the PDF in the Insert File dialog box.

PC Users: If the PDF is not available, select All Files.

All Files option in the Insert File dialog box in Word 365
Figure 5. All Files option

Mac Users: If the PDF is grayed out, select the Options button, and then select All Files in the Enable menu.

Options button and Enable menu in the Insert File dialog box in Word for Mac 365
Figure 6. Options button and All Files option (Mac)
  1. Select the Insert button.
Insert button in the Insert File dialog box in Word 365
Figure 7. Insert button
  1. Select the OK button in the dialog box explaining that the PDF will be converted to a Word document. (Mac users will see a dialog box but don’t have to select a button.)
PDF to Word conversion dialog box in Word 365
Figure 9. OK button

The contents of the PDF should be inserted into your document. You can now edit the new text and images as you normally would.

PDF content inserted in Word 365
Figure 9. Inserted PDF content

Related Resources

How to Convert Microsoft Word Files to PDFs

How to Insert Files into Existing PDFs in Adobe Acrobat

How to Convert PDFs to Microsoft Word Files in Adobe Acrobat

How to Insert Files into Existing Files in Microsoft Word

Updated June 18, 2022

Filed Under: Microsoft Word Tagged With: Microsoft 365, Word 2013, Word 2016, Word 2019, Word 2021, Word 365, Word for Mac

Home » How to Insert PDFs into Microsoft Word Documents (PC & Mac)

Primary Sidebar

Meet the Author

Technical Writer and Editor Erin Wright

Hello! My name is Erin. I am a technical writer and editor who shares writing-related software tutorials on this website and on YouTube.

Recent Tutorials

How to Create Printable Address Labels with Images in Microsoft Word

How to Create Run-In Headings in Microsoft Word (Indented & Left-Aligned)

How to Insert Text into Shapes in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

How to Export PDF Tables from Adobe Acrobat to Excel (PC & Mac)

How to Insert Images into Shapes in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

Explore More Tutorials

  • Microsoft Word
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • PowerPoint
  • Writing
  • Editing

Footer

  • Microsoft Word Tutorials
  • Adobe Acrobat Tutorials
  • PowerPoint Tutorials
  • Writing Tips
  • Editing Tips
  • Writing-Related Resources
  • About Me
  • Contact
Email: erinwrightwriting@gmail.com
Phone: 708-669-9503

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

© Erin Wright, 2012–2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this website’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Erin Wright with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.