Why Choose PDFelement Pro for Mac to Convert PDF to Text on Mac PDFelement is the best PDF to text converter, it is able to convert PDF file to any editable format such as plaint text, rich text, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, EPUB, Word, and various types of images. With the inbuilt OCR technology you will be able to edit and convert the scanned PDF. Choose the PDF you want to convert from your computer. Our PDF to Word converter will begin extracting the text, images, and scanned pages (OCR) from your PDF. A perfectly formatted Word document is created in seconds and ready to download. Our PDF to Word converter then wipes out any copies of your file from our server, keeping your data safe.
If you convert PDF to text with this simple online tool, you can easily extract text from any scan you have – even from pictures. If you have a PDF that does not allow any copying of the text, run it through our PDF to Text converter to get a simple TXT file containing all the text of your PDF document. If you convert PDF to text with this simple online tool, you can easily extract text from any scan you have – even from pictures. If you have a PDF that does not allow any copying of the text, run it through our PDF to Text converter to get a simple TXT file containing all the text of your PDF document.
Quick and easy guide to convert PDF to Word on Mac.
In the computer stream, there are many file formats and one such is the Portable Document Format (PDF) that can run on any Operating System. You can view the PDF file easily, but when the editing part comes, you may wonder how to convert PDF to Word on MAC, like editing in PDF is not simple and if it MAC OS, then the process will be a bit complicated.
So, to overcome this situation, you have 5 ways to convert PDF files to Word. These methods will enable you to convert the scanned PDF files to .doc, .docx or TXT format.
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How to convert PDF to Word on MAC?
Contents
- 1 How to convert PDF to Word on MAC?
#1. How to Export PDF to Word on Mac Using Google Docs
You might have accessed Google Docs several times, but overlooked its great feature and one such is to convert PDF to word doc. Google Docs is a powerful tool that can be used in the documentation part as it is embedded with Optical Character Recognition that can convert the scanned PDF or image files to word file. Now, go through the steps listed below to convert pdf into words.
Step #1: First and foremost, open Google Drive on your Mac and then Sign in with the username and password.
Step #2: Now, click on the Gear shaped icon which is located at the top of the page and then select ‘Settings’ from the drop-down menu.
Step #3: Click on the ‘General’ tab that is located at the left panel and move to the ‘Convert upload’ section.
Step #4: After completing the above step, click on the checkbox ‘Convert uploaded files to Google Docs editor format’ and then click on the ‘Done button.
However, there is another way to convert pdf to word document Mac and the same is provided below for your convenience.
Step #1: Open Google Drive on your Mac and then sign in with your credentials.
Step #2: Now, click on the ‘New’ tab and then select ‘File Uploads’ from the drop-down menu. Thereafter, you will need to select the pdf file that you want to convert into a word file.
Step #3: After uploading the file, click on the ‘File’ tab and move to the ‘Download as’ section and then select Microsoft Word (DOCX).
Step #4: Now, save the file and it will be in the word file that will enable you to edit the contents effectively.
#2. How to Convert PDF to Word on Mac with Automator
Automator is an inbuilt app of Mac that enables the users to access the workflow efficiently. Most of the users are not aware that this app can convert PDF to Word Mac.
However, it won’t give the perfect look after converting the file to Word and you will have to give the final touch, but this application will extract the PDF file and fetches it into plain text or Rich text.
Using this Automator, you will not have to wonder for a question ‘how to save PDF as Word’ as you will get an option to do this task. Now, follow the steps listed below for PDF to Word conversion.
Step #1: Open the Automator tool on your Mac.
Step #2: Now, create a new workflow and then move to the ‘Search for’ section.
Step #3: Thereafter, select ‘Get selected finder items’ to select the PDF file.
Step #4: Now, move to ‘Extract PDF Text’ and then select the ‘Output filename’, i.e. rich or plain text.
Step #5: After completing the above task, click on the ‘Run’ button and allow the Automator to perform the task.
Step #6: Once the process is completed, open the word file that has been converted in PDF format.
#3. Try third party applications
PDF to Word converter for Mac freeware will help you to achieve the task effectively. There are many such applications available in the market that can reduce your effort. The applications are paid versions, but some of them are free and using the same will help you to convert PDF to Word files more precisely.
However, there is one serious drawback of such applications as the PDF file runs on Optical Character Recognition technology, so they can give you the perfect output. But, some applications embedded with OCR are also available that will cost you, but you can try the demo version free of cost.
Step #1: Search for the third-party tool which is embedded with OCR technology such as CISDEM, Online OCR, and many more.
Step #2: After selecting the one at per your convenience, download and launch the application.
Step #3: Now, drag and drop the file in the application and then adjust the PDF file as per your desire.
Step #4: After giving the final touch to the PDF file, move to the ‘Output format’ section and then select the desired format from the list.
Step #5: You will see the ‘Convert’ button, click on it to start the PDF to Word conversion process.
Step #6: After the completion of the process, open the Word file that has been converted from PDF and perform the task that you want to do.
#4. How to Convert a PDF to Word File using Adobe Acrobat
Adobe is the creator of the PDF, so definitely it provides the tool to convert PDF to Word and one such is Export PDF to Word, but this is a bit expensive. The web app application runs smoothly on any OS and performs the conversion task smoothly. If you have lots of PDF files and need to convert them into DOC format, then this is an ideal tool.
However, if you just need the conversion of 2-.3 files, then better think again to access this tool as it will cost you more and in this case, you can try the above methods for the conversion process. The prime demerit of this tool is that it does not provide a free trial, so you will get to know about this tool only after purchasing the subscription plan that costs US $23.88/yr.
For more details, you can visit the official website of Adobe by clicking on the link
#5. Convert PDF to Word in mac without any Tool
If you are connected with the internet but don’t want to download and install any dedicated software to convert pdf to word doc, then you can simply search for “pdf to word converter for mac” online, you will get a list of sites like SimplyPDF.com which are offering such services without any cost. You need to go through those sites and upload your PDF file there and then follow the on-screen process to download the doc file. If you require to convert pdf into word on a regular basis, then you can bookmark those sites which are convenient to convert PDF files into Doc form.
Final Thoughts
Converting PDF to Word on Mac is not a tough job, but you should know the proper way where you can perform the task. Here, the listed methods are simple and easy to use and all the methods are free of cost, so you need not worry about the cost except Adobe.
Google Docs is an ideal platform that will help you to convert PDF to Word Mac free online. Apart from Google Docs, you can also access the Automator tool that is inbuilt on Mac and it will also do the task more efficiently. Now, you have lots of choices and you can choose the one as per your solace.
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There are many ways to convert PDF to text, and some of those methods are just not going to give you the results you need.
The easiest ways to convert PDF to text on Mac
Here, we'll show you the right ways to convert PDF to text, and highlight a few pdf to text converter apps we really like.
OCR and PDF to Text Converters
Convert your PDFs to text files with ease. Best utilities in one pack, give it a go!
OCR PDF to text
Prizmo is a very powerful document scanning and PDF exporter for Mac. It excels when you need to convert scanned PDF to text on your desktop, but it's so much more than that!
Prizmo also converts PDFs to text using an advanced OCR, or optical character recognition. Its 'recognize' feature scans your PDFs for characters, which helps it know what should be converted to a text file, and what might be an image or formatting that can be omitted.
We like Prizmo because its PDF to text OCR is really clever, and omits formatting other converters may leave behind. In side-by-side testing, we've found it to produce better true text documents than many other services.
Here's how to use Prizmo to convert your PDF document to a text file:
- Open Prizmo. Select 'New File.'
- Choose 'Open Image File.'
- Select the PDF file you want to convert to text from your computer.
- Select 'Recognize' from the top right corner of the screen.
- From the Menu bar, go to File > Export.
- From the drop-down menu, select 'Rich Text.'
- Select 'Export to File.'
- Name your new text file, and choose where you'd like to save it.
Convert pdf to searchable text
If you've got huge PDFs you want to convert to text documents, there's a really good chance you'll want those new files to be as searchable as your PDF was. This is especially critical for wordy PDF files, as text documents lack formatting. Instead of visual cues to tell you where to look, you'll have a wall of text.
PDFPen is a great application focused on making PDFs editable, which is awesome when you need signatures on documents or for people to fill-in forms. But it's also a really powerful PDF to txt converter, and allows for batch converting if you need that functionality.
Here's how to convert a PDF to text with PDFPen:
- Open PDFPen, and select the document you want to convert. Select 'Open.'
- From the Menu bar, go to File > Export.
- Choose 'Rich Text' from the drop-down menu.
- Select 'export,' and you're done!
That's really all it takes! Now you have a searchable text document from your PDF. Check out how to search a PDF.
Keep a few things in mind when using PDFPen to turn PDF documents into text files. It retains some formatting, which can be handy in certain cases. While there are times you will definitely want to strip out all of the formatting a PDF has, sometimes objects are actually necessary bits of info.
We converted a financial document boasting of zero-percent introductory rates for a credit card, and most text converters left out the actual '0' from the document because it was an object, not a character. PDFPen didn't have an issue, but did retain some formatting after converting the PDF to a text document, which may not be what you're looking for.
Convert Handwriting to Text
When we talk about converting PDF to text, we're most often discussing the OCR. While many OCR services intend to strip anything not immediately recognizable as a character out of the final product, MathKey does things a bit different.
The app makes itself really handy for those who prefer to handwrite, especially for mathematical purposes. It's built for recognizing mathematical equations, which is great for those who like to put pen to screen on an iPad with Apple Pencil to work out math problems.
Because it's focused on math, MathKey allows you to export scanned images as images, LaTex, or MathML.
MathKey also has a really handy method for linking your iPad or iPhone works to the Mac. In the mobile app, you can scan a QR code to link to the MathKey website. Once linked, you can then transfer your math problem sketches to your Mac, where you are able to convert your handwriting. After you convert it, you're able to export it as an image, LaTex, or MathML file, which can be used in any document you like.
It's great for those times you have to include some mathematical equations to a document, but don't feel like fussing with the Mac's keyboard workarounds for typing the equations out.
Convert anything to text
Another useful tool in your work is TextSniper. The app converts any text on your screen to text. Just use the app shortcut Command + Shift + 2, select the part of the screen with the text you want to convert, and the text will be copied to your Mac’s clipboard. Copy-paste wherever you need it and you are done! Bonus feature — the app also reads QR and barcodes.
Use TextSniper’s simple selection tool to get the text from images, PDFs, screenshots, videos, banners, or anywhere you need. Whether you want your PDF scans or images deciphered, TextSniper got it all.
And if you don’t want to remember the app’s keyboard shortcut, just click on the app’s icon in your menu bar to manually trigger the selection tool.
How to use Automator to convert pdfs to text - a native macOS solution
You can use Preview to save text files as PDFs, but not PDF to txt. Instead, Apple's built-in Automator is your go-to solution. Just keep in mind Automator is a 'pro' tool, so follow along closely so you don't mess anything up:
- Open Automator on your Mac.
- Select 'New Document.'
- Select 'Workflow' from the menu that appears.
- From the menu on the left side, select 'Files and Folders.'
- On the sub-menu to the right of the main menu, find 'Ask for Finder items.' Drag that to the open space on the far right side of the window.
- Select 'PDFs' from the menu.
- Select 'Extract PDF text' from the sub-menu that appears. Drag it to the right side of the screen, under 'Ask for Finder items.'
- In 'Extract PDF text,' select 'rich text' as your output type. Your Automator screen should look like this:
- From the menu bar, select File > Save.
- Enter the name of your new app.
- Choose where you want to save your app.
- Select 'Application' as the file format. (The default is 'workflow.)
That's all you have to do set your new Automator app up. Now, let's run it and extract text from PDF:
- Double-click your app.
- Choose the PDF file you want to convert, and select 'Choose' on the bottom right of the window.
Now your PDF has been converted to a text document, and saved to your desktop. All you have to do is open it up and your PDF is readable as a text document!
A few things to note. First, your PDF will not be destroyed or altered in any way. This Automator app only extracts text from the PDF and saves that text as a new file.
Because the app will only convert PDF to txt, no images will be converted.
How to convert text in PDF in Adobe Acrobat
You can use OCR with Adobe Acrobat, though there are some things to keep in mind. Acrobat is a professional tool, and can be really difficult for first-timers or novices. Because it was designed of professionals, those who don't need a powerful PDF viewer will likely find Adobe Acrobat far too fussy for most use cases.
And remember while we're discussing a finite use-case in converting PDFs to text documents, that doesn't mean it has to be difficult. This is why we suggest Prizmo, PDFPen, and MathKey. Chances are one of those apps suit your needs far better than Adobe Acrobat.
But if you want to use Adobe Acrobat's OCR functionality, here's how:
Free Pdf To Text Converter Mac
- Open a PDF file within Acrobat.
- Select 'Tools' in the top right corner of the window.
- Select 'Recognize text.'
- Select 'In this file.'
- On the next screen, choose how many pages in your document you'd like scanned. You can also make edits to the language or output preferences by clicking 'edit.'
That's really all it takes to scan the document, but it's a lot more granular than other apps.
This also doesn't export your document, so keep that in mind. All you've done with Adobe Acrobat is make your PDF searchable, and each character recognizable.
What about OCR PDFs online?
There are several unique online services for scanning PDFs using an OCR online feature. Their capabilities are similar – all scan your PDFs and turn them into text documents using an optical character recognition service, but there are things to consider.
First, you're using a cloud-based service, and there's no way to know what's happening behind the scenes. While we don't doubt most are simply converting PDFs to text as a service, we do wonder why they offer it free of charge. It may be to train a machine learning algorithm using what amounts to crowdsourced data, or they could be saving copies of your PDFs or text files for some purpose.
Online services are sometimes a front for capturing your email address for marketing purposes. They may also have a model where your first scan is free, and subsequent scans cost money, or you have to subscribe to some service. Many might do so just to get some scans done, but if you forget about your subscription, the cost adds up over time.
Simply put, we prefer using native apps to get the job done.
Converting a PDF to a text file is one of those use-cases where your needs are unique enough that it can be difficult to find a solution, but urgent enough that you need a solution quickly.
It's difficult to recommend Adobe Acrobat. While it's robust, it's usually overkill for most of us. Adobe thrives in legacy enterprise settings where companies need the power Acrobat provides.
Automator is handy, and provided good results. It held onto too much formatting for our liking, and rendered some text in colors. Text documents opened in the TextEdit app on the Mac, and it was difficult to read much of the text Automator provided. We wanted clear, concise, accurate text from a PDF that was readable, and search-able.
Turn Pdf Into Word Mac
That's what Prizmo and PDFPen excel at. We like both because they make accomplishing your tasks easy. Each are strong in their respective ways; Prizmo ha a much stricter OCR engine, while PDFPen captures more of the page info. We ran some side-by-side testing of three documents, and discovered this to be true across all PDF documents we used.
There's no recommendation, and we think both are easy enough to use it doesn't warrant a decision to be rendered. If one doesn't work, the other app can fulfill your needs quickly and easily.
Best of all, Prizmo, PDFPen, TextSniper and MathKey are all available for free as part of a free trial of Setapp, the most well-rounded suite of productivity apps for Mac.