How To Insert A PDF Into A Word Document In Three Different Ways

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You’re working on a report in Word when you realize a PDF you have would fit in perfectly. What do you do? Copy and paste the whole thing? No way! There are better methods, each with its own advantages. 

Though PDFs and Word documents are different file types, there are ways to combine them. In this article, I’ll explain how to insert a PDF into Word as a linked object, converted Word document, and image.

How to Insert a PDF into a Word Document

How To Insert A PDF Into Word

As An Object

You can embed PDF as a clickable object within your text, which is great when you just want to reference it. Here’s how:

  1. In a Word document, click where you want the PDF to go.
How to Insert PDF in a Document as an Object
  1. Click Insert.
Inserting a PDF File to a Word Document as an Object
  1. Click the Object icon in the Text area.
Clicking the Object Icon to Insert PDF File as an Object
  1. Click Create from File.
Creating an Object from File to insert in a Word Document

5. Click Browse…

Browse for the file to insert in a Word Document
How to Insert PDF in a Document as an Object
  1. Find the PDF you want to insert and click Insert.
Choosing the file to be inserted in a Word Document as an Object
Inserting PDF file to A word Document as an Object
  1. Click OK.
Confirming to insert PDF File to a Word Document as an Object
  1. You’ll see a clickable icon where you clicked within the document. Double-click it.
PDF file showing as an inserted object in a Word File
  1. It may open automatically in a PDF-viewing program, or it may ask for your permission first. If the latter happens, click Open. 
Opening the PDF File inserted in a Word Document

As A Converted Word Document

You can turn a PDF into a Word document, making it fit in seamlessly with other text. This option also allows you to edit a PDF. Below are two methods:

With Word

You can convert a PDF into a Word document by opening it in Word. Here’s how:

  1. In Word, go to File > Open.
Opening PDF File in Word
Opening PDF File in Word
  1. Click Browse.
Browsing for PDF File to Open in Word
  1. Find and open the PDF file.
Opening PDF File
  1. Click OK.
Confirming to Open PDF File
  1. Your file will become an editable Word document.
PDF file as an Editable Word Document

With PDFelement

You can also convert PDFs into Word documents with PDFelement, which Windows users can try by downloading the free version here.

Once you’ve downloaded PDFelement, follow these steps:

  1. In PDFelement, click Open files.
Convert PDF to Word Doc in PDF Element
  1. Find and open the PDF file.
Opening PDF File in PDF Element
  1. Click Convert.
converting PDF file in PDFelement
  1. Click To Word.
converting PDF file in PDFelement to word
  1. If you get this notification (using the free version of PDFelement), click Continue to try.
converting PDF file in PDFelement
  1. Click Save.
Saving converted file in PDF Element
  1. Click Open.
PDFelement conversion successful
  1. Double-click the new Word document.
Converted PDF File to Word File
  1. It will open in Word.
PDFelement Conversion to word

Up to 40% OFF to get Wondershare PDFelement PDF Editor version 8 at Wondershare Software. Use coupon code SAFWSPDF during checkout.

Get PDFelement

Just FYI, if you try PDFelement but don’t like it, you may prefer iSkysoft PDF Editor Pro.

As An Image

When you insert PDF into Word as an image, you preserve its exact appearance. This is handy if it has a complex layout.

Before you can do this, you have to convert it into an image format, such as JPG. Below are a couple of ways to do this and what to do afterward.

With The Adobe Acrobat Website

Adobe Acrobat lets you convert PDFs into JPGs for free here. You’ll have to sign in or create an account to use the feature.

Just FYI, you can only use features like this for free a limited number of times before Adobe Acrobat won’t let you continue without a paid subscription. 

Follow these steps:

  1. Once you’re in, click Select a file.
Selecting a PDF File to be converted in Adobe Acrobat
  1. Find the PDF file and open it.
Finding the PDF file to be converted in Adobe Acrobat Site
Opening  PDF File
  1. Under Convert to, select an image format.
Converting PDF File to Image
  1. Set Image quality to whatever you want.
Setting Image Quality of the PDF file being converted to Image
  1. Click Convert to JPG.
Converting PDF File to JPG
  1. Click Download.
Downloading Converted File
  1. If using Chrome, right-click the downloaded file at the bottom of the screen.
Downloaded file showing at the bottom of the Chrome Browser
  1. Click Show in folder.
Choosing the Option to have the downloaded file Show in Folder
  1. Right-click the file.
Downloaded file showing up in the Download Folder
  1. Click Extract All…
Extracting Files from the the Zip file Downloaded from Adobe Acrobat Website
  1. Click Extract.
Clicking the Extract Button to Extract files from the Zip file
  1. In Word, click where you want the image to go.
Clicking on the part of the Document where the Image file will be inserted
  1. Click Insert.
Clicking on the insert Menu in MS Word
  1. Click the Pictures icon.
Choosing the Pictures option in the Insert Menu in MS Word
  1. Click This Device.
Inserting Image to Word File from the Device Drive
  1. Find and insert the new image file(s).

*Note: If you converted a multiple-page PDF, there will be a separate image file for each page. For each page, click where you want it to go and repeat Step 16.

Choosing the Image File
Inserting Image File to Word File
  1. You’ll see the whole PDF page wherever you clicked before.
PDF File Showing up as an Inserted Image in Word

With PDFCandy

You can also change PDFs to image files for free with PDFCandy. According to an error message I got, unregistered visitors are allowed to do two tasks per every two hours.

Follow these steps:

  1. Go here.
PDF Candy Home page
  1. Click + Add file.
Clicking the Add file button in PDF Candy
  1. Find and open the PDF.
Clicking on the PDF file to be converted
Clicking on the Open Button To Add the file in PDF Candy
  1. Choose the quality level.
Choosing Quality level in PDFCandy
  1. Click Convert PDF.
Converting File in PDF Candy
  1. Click Download file.
Downloading File in PDF Candy
  1. Repeat steps 11-16 from the Adobe Acrobat website method.
PDF File Showing up as an Inserted Image in Word

FAQs

How to insert a PDF into Word so that it occupies the whole page?

You can convert a PDF into a Word document. In some versions of Word, you can do this simply by opening the PDF. You can also use PDFelement to convert the file and open it in Word.

How to insert multiple PDF pages into a Word document?

You can insert multiple PDF pages as images into a Word document. To do so, first convert a PDF into an image file (or files, in the case of a multiple-page PDF) using PDF Candy. In Word, go to Insert > Pictures > This Device and insert the images.

That’s How To Insert A PDF Into Word

Knowing how to insert a PDF into Word enables you to easily use old documents in new contexts. I’ve covered three main ways to do it: as a clickable icon, as a converted Word file, and as an image

The clickable icon option is handy when you just want to reference another document. If you want to incorporate a PDF’s contents into a Word document, it’s better to insert it as a converted Word document or image. 

The Word document method allows you to edit the PDF, whereas the image method is better for preserving its exact appearance.

For all these operations, you can use PDFElement.

Up to 40% OFF to get Wondershare PDFelement PDF Editor version 8 at Wondershare Software. Use coupon code SAFWSPDF during checkout.

Get PDFelement

A good alternative to PDFElement is iSkySoft Editor – check out our review of the software here.

Did you enjoy this tutorial? If so, please share it! Please also share your thoughts or concerns in the comments.

And the very last tip: Word has its perks, but what about email? Click here to learn how to insert a PDF (and other things) into a Gmail email.

About The Author

  • Cole Trahan

    Cole is a freelance writer and former laptop repair technician with a knack for explaining how things work. As a remote worker and millennial, software and the internet are ordinary parts of his life. Cole’s pastimes include enjoying the outdoors, meditation, and listening to creepypastas on Youtube. Follow him on LinkedIn.

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Cole Trahan

Cole is a freelance writer and former laptop repair technician with a knack for explaining how things work. As a remote worker and millennial, software and the internet are ordinary parts of his life. Cole’s pastimes include enjoying the outdoors, meditation, and listening to creepypastas on Youtube. Follow him on LinkedIn.

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