How to Convert PDF to Google Doc
Learn how to turn a PDF into an editable Google Doc using Google Drive. This guide covers regular PDFs, scanned documents with OCR, and tips for preserving formatting.
Quick Answer
To convert a PDF to Google Doc: Upload the PDF to Google Drive, right-click it, and select Open with > Google Docs. The PDF will be converted to an editable document.
Important note:
Complex formatting (tables, charts, multi-column layouts) may not convert perfectly. For best results with heavily formatted PDFs, convert to Word first.
Method 1: Using Google Drive (Recommended)
The easiest way to convert a PDF to Google Doc is directly through Google Drive. This method works for both text-based and scanned PDFs.
Open Google Drive
Go to drive.google.com and sign in to your Google account.
Upload your PDF
Click the + New button in the left sidebar, then select File upload. Choose the PDF file from your computer. You can also drag and drop the file directly into Google Drive.
Open with Google Docs
Right-click on the uploaded PDF file. Select Open with from the context menu, then click Google Docs.
Edit your document
Google Docs will create a new document with the converted content. The original PDF remains unchanged. You can now edit the text, add formatting, and make any changes you need.
Auto-convert on upload
You can set Google Drive to automatically convert uploads. Click the gear icon in Drive, select Settings, and check Convert uploads to Google Docs editor format.
Method 2: Convert via Word (Better Formatting)
For PDFs with complex formatting, converting to Word first often produces better results. Word handles tables, columns, and layouts more accurately.
Upload Word file to Google Drive
Go to Google Drive and upload the converted .docx file using + New > File upload.
Open with Google Docs
Right-click the Word file and select Open with > Google Docs. The formatting will typically be preserved better than a direct PDF conversion.
| Method | Best For | Formatting Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Direct (Google Drive) | Simple text-based PDFs | Good for basic text |
| Via Word | PDFs with tables, columns, complex layouts | Better formatting retention |
Method 3: Convert Scanned PDFs with OCR
Google Drive includes built-in OCR (Optical Character Recognition) that can extract text from scanned PDFs and images. This works automatically when you open a scanned PDF with Google Docs.
Upload the scanned PDF
Upload your scanned PDF or image file to Google Drive.
Open with Google Docs
Right-click and select Open with > Google Docs. Google will automatically run OCR on the document.
Review the extracted text
The new Google Doc will show the original image at the top and the extracted text below. Review and edit the text as needed. OCR is not 100% accurate, so check for errors.
OCR Best Practices
- Use clear, high-resolution scans
- Ensure good lighting and contrast
- Keep files under 2 MB for best results
- Use common fonts (Arial, Times New Roman)
OCR Limitations
- Only first 10 pages are processed
- Handwritten text may not convert well
- Complex layouts may flatten
- Tables may convert to plain text
Supported languages
Google Drive OCR supports 15+ languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and more.
Formatting Tips After Conversion
PDF to Google Doc conversions often require some cleanup. Here are common issues and how to fix them:
Fix line breaks
PDFs often add line breaks within paragraphs. Use Find and Replace (Ctrl+H / Cmd+H) to find paragraph breaks and replace with spaces where needed.
Rebuild tables
Tables often convert as plain text. Select the text and use Insert > Table to recreate the table structure.
Reapply heading styles
Headings may lose their formatting. Select heading text and use Format > Paragraph styles to apply Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.
Fix fonts
Custom PDF fonts may not be available in Google Docs. Select text and choose a similar font from the toolbar font menu.
Convert PDF on Mobile (iOS & Android)
You can convert PDFs to Google Docs on your mobile device using the Google Drive app.
Open Google Drive app
Launch the Google Drive app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
Upload or locate the PDF
Tap the + button to upload a new PDF, or navigate to an existing PDF in your Drive.
Open with Google Docs
Tap the three dots menu next to the PDF, then select Open with > Google Docs.
Edit in Google Docs app
The converted document will open in the Google Docs app for editing.
Pro Tips for PDF to Google Doc Conversion
Check the original PDF quality
Conversion quality depends on the original PDF. PDFs created from text documents convert better than PDFs made from scanned images.
Keep the original PDF
Google Drive keeps your original PDF intact. The converted Google Doc is a separate file, so you can always reference the original if needed.
Use Google Workspace add-ons for bulk conversion
If you need to convert many PDFs, install the PDF to Docs add-on from the Google Workspace Marketplace to batch convert files.
Consider the reverse: Google Doc to PDF
To save a Google Doc as PDF, go to File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf). This creates a high-quality PDF that preserves all formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert a PDF to a Google Doc?
Upload the PDF to Google Drive, right-click it, and select Open with > Google Docs. The PDF will be converted to an editable Google Doc.
Does converting a PDF to Google Docs keep formatting?
Basic text formatting is usually preserved, but complex elements like tables, charts, columns, and custom fonts may not convert perfectly. For heavily formatted PDFs, try converting to Word first for better results.
Can I convert a scanned PDF to Google Docs?
Yes. Google Drive automatically uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to extract text from scanned PDFs. Right-click and select Open with > Google Docs. The original image will appear at the top with extracted text below.
Is there a file size limit for PDF conversion?
For OCR on scanned documents, files should be 2 MB or smaller for best results. For standard text-based PDFs, there is no strict limit, but very large files may take longer to process.
How do I convert a Google Doc back to PDF?
Open your Google Doc, go to File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf). The document will be downloaded as a PDF file.
Can I edit a PDF directly in Google Docs?
Not directly. You must first convert the PDF to a Google Doc format using the method above. Google Docs cannot edit PDFs in their original format.
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