How to Insert a PDF Into a Word Document

When you need to compile two different types of files

Insert PDF into Word

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by Tricia Goss
Tricia Goss has been a freelance writer and editor for 10+ years. She's written tips and tutorials for Microsoft Office applications and other sites.
Updated August 12, 2019

Microsoft Word includes a tool that enables users to insert a PDF into Word as a whole or as a clickable object. Alternatively, you can use the tool to import text from a PDF file onto the pages of your Word document, although this method does have some drawbacks.

Depending on the contents of the PDF and the results you want, copying and pasting from the PDF into Word or using a third-party application, such as Adobe Acrobat DC, might be the most effective approach, as well.

These instructions apply to Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, and Word for Office 365. Although you cannot insert PDF files into documents using Word Online, you can edit the file using the Microsoft Office Online version of Word.

Insert a PDF Into Word Document as an Embedded Object

When you embed a PDF file in Word, the first page of your PDF will appear in the document.

Since an embedded object becomes part of the document after it is inserted, it's no longer connected to the source file. Any changes made to the original PDF in the future will not be reflected in the Word document.

  1. Place the cursor in the Word document where you want to insert the PDF as an object.

  2. Select the Insert tab.

    Screenshot of Insert tab

  3. Select Object in the Text group. The Object dialog box will open.

    Screenshot of Object dialog box

  4. Select the Create from File tab.

    Screenshot of Create from File tab

  5. Select Browse, then navigate to the PDF file you want to insert.

  6. Select OK to embed the file in the document. It will appear on the selected page of the Word document.

How to Insert a PDF Into Word as a Linked Object

Inserting a PDF file as a linked object means it appears as the first page of the PDF, but it's also linked to the original file. You can opt to display an icon instead of a preview. Either option will open the PDF file when selected.

Any changes to the PDF source fill will be reflected in the Word document when using this method.

  1. Place the cursor in the Word document where you want to insert the PDF as a linked object.

  2. Select the Insert tab.

    Screenshot of Insert tab

  3. Select Object in the Text group. The Object dialog box will open.

    Screenshot of Object dialog box

  4. Select the Create from File tab.

    Screenshot of Create from File tab

  5. Select Browse and navigate to the PDF file you want to insert.

  6. Select Link to File to insert the PDF as a shortcut to the source file.

    Screenshot of Link to File

  7. Select Display as Icon to insert an icon representing the file instead of a preview.

    Screenshot of Display as Icon

    Select Change Icon if you want to display a different icon for the PDF file. Select Browse to locate the icon you would rather use, then select OK.

  8. Select OK to add the PDF to the Word document.

How to Insert Text from a PDF Into Word

This approach only inserts the text from a PDF directly into the Word document.

Word will convert the PDF into an editable text document. The result might not look the same as the original PDF, especially if the file includes graphics or text formatting.

  1. Place the cursor in the Word document where you want to insert the text from a PDF file.

  2. Select the Insert tab.

    Screenshot of Insert tab

  3. Select the drop-down arrow next to Object in the Text group, then select Text from File. The Insert File dialog box will open.

    Screenshot of Insert Text from File

  4. Navigate to the PDF file from which you want to insert text and select Insert.

  5. Select OK if a notice appears. After Word converts the PDF to text, it will appear in the document.

How to Copy a PDF Into Word

Copying the text from the PDF file and pasting it into a document is a straightforward way to insert a bit of text into Word.

These instructions explain how to copy text from a PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can use another PDF reader application, although the steps required might differ.

  1. Open the PDF file.

  2. Right-click the document in the primary window and choose Select Tool from the menu that appears.

    Screenshot of Select Tool in right-click menu

  3. Drag to select the text you want to copy.

  4. Right-click the selection, then select Copy.

    Screenshot of Copy in Adobe Reader

  5. Open the Word document. Place the cursor in the Word document where you want to paste the text from the PDF file.

  6. Paste the copied text from the PDF file into the Word document.

If you want the contents of a PDF file in a separate Word document, you can use Adobe Acrobat DC to convert a PDF file to a Word document.

Insert PDF Content as an Image in Word

You can convert the PDF into a static image and insert it into a Word document.

The contents of the PDF will not be editable, nor will they change if the source file is updated using this method.

  1. Use a conversion tool to convert a PDF file to a JPG file. Alternatively, if the PDF is a single page, use the Windows Snipping Tool to capture the contents of the file and save it as a JPG.

    Save the JPG file in a location where you can easily find it to insert in your Word document, such as your desktop.

  2. Open the Word document and place the cursor in the document where you want to insert the image.

  3. Select the Insert tab.

    Screenshot of Insert tab

  4. Select Pictures. The Insert Picture dialog box will open.

    Screenshot of Insert Picture dialog box

  5. Navigate to the location where you saved the JPG version of your PDF file and choose Insert. Word will insert the image into the document.