How do I convert PDF to Word without uploading to a website?

Use a local converter like ConvX. Run "convx convert document.pdf --to docx" in the terminal or drag the PDF into the desktop app. The conversion happens entirely on your machine — no file uploads required.

Will the formatting be preserved when converting PDF to DOCX?

Text-heavy documents convert cleanly with headings, paragraphs, and basic formatting preserved. Tables are usually maintained. Complex layouts with multi-column text or overlapping elements may need some manual cleanup.

Can I convert a scanned PDF to Word?

Scanned PDFs (images of pages without selectable text) require OCR first to extract the text. A standard PDF-to-DOCX conversion will only embed the scanned image into the Word document.

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Guide · Feb 2026 · 4 min read

How to Convert PDF to Word (DOCX) Without Uploading Your Files

You receive a PDF but need to edit it. Every search result wants you to upload it to their server. Your document contains sensitive information. Here's the local alternative.

Why you shouldn't upload PDFs to random websites

PDFs often contain sensitive content: contracts, financial documents, medical records, client deliverables, legal agreements. When you upload to an online converter, that document passes through their servers. Even if they claim to delete it after processing, you have no way to verify that.

For a public flyer, it doesn't matter. For anything with personal or business data, local conversion is the responsible choice.

Converting locally with ConvX

Basic conversion

convx convert document.pdf --to docx

Converts the PDF to an editable Word document. Text, headings, and basic formatting are preserved. The conversion runs entirely on your machine using LibreOffice's conversion engine under the hood.

Multiple PDFs at once

convx convert "./contracts/*.pdf" --to docx -j 4 -d ./editable

Batch convert a folder of PDFs to Word documents using 4 parallel jobs.

Using the desktop app

Drag your PDF into ConvX, select DOCX as the output format, and click convert. For multi-page PDFs, a progress indicator shows the conversion status.

What to expect from the conversion

PDF-to-Word conversion is imperfect by nature. PDFs are designed for display, not editing — they describe where things are on a page, not how the document is structured. That said, modern converters handle most cases well:

Text-heavy documents: Excellent results. Text, paragraphs, and headings convert cleanly.
Tables: Usually preserved, though complex merged cells may need manual cleanup.
Images: Embedded images are extracted and placed in the Word document.
Complex layouts: Multi-column layouts, text boxes, and overlapping elements may shift. Expect some manual reformatting.
Scanned PDFs: If the PDF is a scanned image (no selectable text), conversion produces an image embedded in a Word document. You'd need OCR first.

Tips for better results

Check if the PDF has selectable text. Try selecting text in a PDF viewer. If you can, the conversion will work well. If you can't, the PDF is a scanned image.
Simpler is better. Documents with straightforward layouts convert most cleanly.
Save a copy. Always keep the original PDF. Conversion is one-way — you can always re-convert, but the original is your source of truth.

How to Convert PDF to Word (DOCX) Without Uploading Your Files

Why you shouldn't upload PDFs to random websites

Converting locally with ConvX

Basic conversion

Multiple PDFs at once

Other document formats

Using the desktop app

What to expect from the conversion

Tips for better results

Other conversion paths for documents