How to convert a PDF to Word on a Mac

Turn a PDF into an editable Word document (DOCX) or Markdown, on your Mac, without uploading it.

Built in: macOS has no built-in way. Copying the text out of Preview loses the layout.

With Garlic

1. Start dragging the PDF and hold ⇧ Shift.
2. Drop on DOCX for Word, MD for Markdown, or Text for plain words.
3. The new document appears beside the PDF.

A scanned PDF is only pictures of pages, so there are no words to take out. Drop it on PNG, then drop the pages on Text to read the words on your Mac.

Download Garlic — free to try

Everything happens on your Mac; nothing is uploaded. macOS 13 or later. More guides