PDF is the safest way to send a document: it looks the same on every device, and people can't accidentally change it. Here's how to turn a Word document into a PDF wherever you are.
In Microsoft Word (Windows and Mac)
Choose File → Save As (or Save a Copy), and pick PDF as the file type. On Windows you can also use File → Export → Create PDF/XPS. This keeps links and creates a PDF with selectable text.
In Google Docs
Open the document (you can upload a .docx to Google Drive first) and choose File → Download → PDF document.
In LibreOffice
Choose File → Export as PDF. LibreOffice is free and opens Word documents well.
On iPhone, iPad and Android
In the Microsoft Word app, open the document, tap the … menu and choose Export or Save as, then PDF. Without the Word app, use the browser tool below.
In your browser, without Word
The Word to PDF converter shows a preview of your document and creates the PDF on your device, so confidential documents aren't uploaded anywhere. It gives you two options:
- Download PDF: a PDF that looks exactly like the preview.
- Print / Save as PDF: uses your browser's print dialog and keeps the text selectable and searchable.
Keeping the formatting
- Use common fonts (Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman); unusual fonts may be swapped on other devices.
- Accept or reject tracked changes and delete comments first, or they may appear in the PDF.
- Check page breaks and images in the preview before sending.
Need to go the other way? Use PDF to Word.