How to Convert PDF to Google Docs: 3 Ways for Desktop & Mobile

Why the Word detour works: Google Docs reads Word files natively, so handing it a clean .docx instead of a raw PDF means Docs doesn't have to guess at your layout — columns, tables, and images land much closer to the original. Below are three methods ranked by how well they preserve your document, plus a routing table and the mobile workflow.

For other conversion targets and a deeper look at preserving layout, the how to convert PDF pillar guide covers the full picture.

Part 1. Which Method Should You Use?

Which Method Is Best?

For most people, UPDF (UPDF → Word±OCR → Docs) wins because it keeps the original formatting and is the only option here that reliably handles scanned PDFs through OCR. Google Drive's direct import is the fastest for plain text but unreliable on anything structured, and Microsoft Word sits in between but requires a paid Office license. If your document has tables, columns, or images — or it's a scan — convert with a tool built for layout retention first.

Part 2. Method 1. Convert PDF to Google Docs With UPDF (Best for Keeping Formatting)

Google Docs reads Word files natively, so converting your PDF to a clean Word document first is the most reliable way to land in Docs without broken layouts. UPDF converts PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, text, and image formats while keeping the original structure, and it handles scanned PDFs through built-in OCR. If you don't have it yet, download UPDF for free — it installs in about a minute on Windows and Mac.

Let's look at how UPDF can convert PDF to Google Docs-supported formats on Windows and Mac:

Step 1. Download and install UPDF, then launch it.

Step 2. Open the PDF in UPDF on Windows or Mac — drag the file in, or use Open File on the home screen.

Step 3. Click the Tools icon in the right-side panel, then choose Word. The PDF Converter window opens.

Step 4. Set the page range if needed, and leave Word Content Style on Retain Word Flowing Style to keep the layout close to the original. If your PDF is scanned or image-based, turn on the OCR Text Recognition toggle in the same window and pick the document language — no separate OCR pass needed.

Step 5. Click Convert, then pick a folder to save the Word file.

Step 6. Open Google Drive, click New → File upload, and upload the Word file. Right-click it and choose Open with → Google Docs.

Convert Multiple PDFs to Word at Once

If you have several PDFs to move into Google Docs, convert them in one pass instead of one by one.

Step 1. Click Tools in the bottom toolbar, then choose Convert under Batch PDFs.

Step 2. Add all the PDFs you want to convert, set the output format to Word (.docx) (turn on OCR if any are scanned), and run the batch.

Step 3. Upload the converted Word files to Google Drive and open each with Google Docs.

Video guide on How to Convert PDF on Desktop

Part 3. Method 2. Convert PDF to Google Docs Online With Google Drive

If the PDF is mostly plain text and you'd rather not install anything, Google Drive converts it directly. Expect formatting to shift on anything with columns, tables, or graphics.

Step 1. Open Google Drive in your browser, click New → File upload, and upload the PDF.

Step 2. Right-click the uploaded PDF (or click the three dots), then choose Open with → Google Docs.

Step 3. Drive converts the file and opens it as an editable Doc, saved automatically in your Drive.

Part 4. Method 3. Convert PDF to Google Docs With Microsoft Word

If you already have Microsoft Word, it can open a PDF and convert it to an editable document you then move into Docs.

Step 1. Right-click the PDF on your computer and choose Open with → Word.

• Possible scenarios: Word warns it will convert the PDF and may not keep the original formatting exactly. Click OK.

Step 2. Save the result as a .docx, upload it to Google Drive, and open it with Google Docs.

Part 5. How to Convert PDF to Google Docs on iPhone & Android

The conversion steps are the same on iOS and Android — convert to Word in the UPDF app, then open the file in Docs through Drive or the Google Docs app.

Step 1. Install the free UPDF app from the App Store or Google Play and open it.

Step 2. Tap Tools, choose PDF to Word, select your file, adjust the settings, and tap Continue to convert. (For a scanned PDF, turn on OCR in the conversion settings.)

Step 3. Save or share the Word file to Google Drive, then open it with the Google Docs app.

Part 6. FAQS About Converting PDF to Google Docs

Conclusion

Converting a PDF to Google Docs comes down to how much your formatting matters. For plain text, Google Drive's direct import is quick and free. For reports, resumes, scanned files, or anything with tables and images, convert to Word first with UPDF — it keeps the layout intact, handles scanned PDFs with OCR, and works on Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android.

Download UPDF for free to convert your own PDF. You can export for free with a trial watermark, and upgrading to Pro removes the watermark on export.