How to edit a PDF: in Word, or without it

PDFs are made to be read, not changed. When you need to change one, you have two choices: turn it back into a Word document and edit it there, or edit the PDF itself. Which is better depends on how much you're changing.

When to convert to Word

Convert when you are rewriting: whole paragraphs, new sections, a document you'll keep working on. PDF to Word turns the PDF into an editable .docx, keeping paragraphs, tables and images where they belong.

• PDFs made from documents convert best. A scan has no text to convert; run it through OCR PDF first.
• Expect to tidy up: complex layouts, columns and unusual fonts don't always come back perfectly.
• This conversion needs office software, so the file is sent to our converter and deleted as soon as it's done.

When to edit the PDF directly

For small changes, such as fixing a date, adding a note, filling a blank or adding a signature, converting is overkill and risks the layout. Open the PDF in the PDF editor instead and add text, images, shapes, highlights, links and notes right on the page. It runs in your browser, so the file isn't uploaded.

To change words that are already there, use Edit text: click a line and retype it, and the new text is set in a matching font. A free account can retype a few lines per document, and Pro removes the limit. It works a line at a time, so the rest of the page doesn't reflow.

When you just need the words

If you only want to quote or reuse the text, PDF to text pulls all of it out as a plain .txt file, instantly and in your browser.

Whiteout in the editor covers text the way correction fluid does: the original is still in the file. To remove something for good, use Redact PDF.