Word documents are quite popular for many reasons. However, PDF documents are preferred sometimes for official uses, so you may need to convert to PDF at some point.
If you’re reading this guide, it may be that you have gotten to that point and are looking for directions on how to convert Word to PDF.
In this guide, we will provide all the guidance you need with step-by-step instructions to enable you convert your Word documents to PDF. Note that you don’t need to be an experienced computer user, all you need is the basics of using a computer to convert your Word document to PDF.
Converting Word to PDF
There are three ways you can convert your Word document to PDF, and we’ll cover them one by one in this guide as follows. The first two do not require internet connection, while the third does.
Method 1: Using Microsoft Word
- Open the Word document. If you wish to convert a document you’re currently working on, then you will have done this step. If not, find the document on your laptop wherever you have saved it and open it in Word editor.
- Go to the File menu and click on it on the top-left corner of your Word document.
- From the dropdown, click on Save As.
- A dialogue box will pop up with the name of the document that will be saved and the folder where it is about to be saved.
- Edit the file name if you wish to, and then click on the file format just below the name as shown below. Now select PDF.
- Choose the folder where you wish to save your PDF and click on Save.
- Congratulations, your Word file has been successfully converted to PDF, right on your computer.
Method 2: Using Print to PDF
This method is also done entirely on the computer with no need for internet connection.
- Open the Word document you wish to convert. If it is one you’re already working on, proceed to the next step.
- Go to File as in the first method and in the dropdown, click on Print. You may also access the same function by pressing CTRL+P on your keyboard.
- On the next page, go to Print to PDF and select Microsoft Print to PDF if it is not selected by default.
- Next, click on Print and it will take you to the place where you save. Enter the name you wish to save the file with, and select the correct folder then click on Save.
- Your file is saved as PDF.
Method 3: Using Free Online Tools
There are several online tools you can use to convert your Word documents to PDF as well. This may work better for you if in addition to converting to PDF, you wish to make other changes to the file. Follow these steps to do the conversion.
- Go online and search for ‘convert Word to PDF’. You’ll get suggestions for the search as shown below.
- As you can see, there are several reliable online Word-to-PDF converters like SmallPDF, Adobe Online Tools, ILovePDF etc. Choose one. For the sake of this guide, we’ll pick the first one, ILovePDF.
- Upload the Document that you wish to convert. You can do this by clicking on Select WORD files or by dragging and dropping the file on the website. You can add as many files as are allowed for free use, or subscribe for the paid version if you have more files to convert.
- After you have uploaded, click on Convert to PDF. When the conversion is done, it will prompt you to download the PDF file.
- Click on Download PDF. Choose the folder to download to, and change the name if you wish and click on Save.
6. Select the folder where you wish to save your converted PDF and rename it if necessary and click Save.
Final thoughts
As you can see, it is quite easy to convert your Word files to PDF with or without the internet. Anyone can follow this guide to convert Word to PDF, so if you find it useful, consider sharing with others so they can use it too.
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