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Method to Convert Word to PDF on Mac

July 31, 2023 925 views

There may come a time when you need to save or convert a Microsoft Word Doc or DOCX file to PDF format from a Mac. The advantages to saving a Word DOC as PDF are notable in that the PDF file becomes universally readable by any operating system with a PDF reader, even without the Microsoft Office suite, and is preserved in its original formatting.

There are several different methods of saving a Word doc as a PDF, and for converting an existing Word DOC/DOCX file to PDF, both of which use the Microsoft Office Word app on the Mac to get the job done. Let’s review how to perform this action.
These tricks apply to all modern versions of Word for Mac, including Microsoft Office 2016 and 2011.

How to Save a Word Doc as PDF in Word for Mac using WPS

This will save any Word doc as a PDF:

Step 1: Open the Word DOC to you want to save as a PDF into Word

Step 2: Pull down the “File” menu and choose “Save As” (or click the little disk icon in the title bar)

Step 3: Look for ‘File Format’ and choose “PDF”

Step 4: Give the document an obvious name (and be sure to include the .pdf file extension) and then choose “Save”

This approach is quick and simple, and it can convert any new Word document into a PDF file by using the Save As tool. It can also convert any old Word document into a PDF file. By selecting "Send PDF" from the "Distribute" option, you can send a Word DOC as a PDF file via email. This is another easy way to share a Word DOC.

The newly created PDF file from the DOC source is now prepared for usage in any PDF-friendly environment, including sending it to someone else while maintaining the original formatting, posting it online, and other uses.  Another significant bonus to saving or converting Word DOC files to PDF is that you can sign documents in Preview using a Mac Trackpad or apply a digital signature to the PDF with Preview, allowing yourself or a recipient to sign a Word document. This is really helpful for letters and contracts, or any of the other scenarios where you’d like to apply a digital signature to a Word DOC file.

How to Convert Word DOC to PDF in Office for Mac

Another option is to convert an existing Word DOC to PDF using the Export feature:

Step 1: Have the Word doc you want to convert to PDF open in Word for Mac

Step 2: Go to the ‘File’ menu and choose “Export”

Step 3: Select “PDF” in the file format selection

Step 4: Choose to Export the Word doc as a PDF

Using Export to convert Doc to PDF gives you a few more PDF saving options but is otherwise not too different from using the “Save As” ability. They both work in most situations, but Export is the preferred choice for converting Office files to PDF. This trick actually works in just about every Office app on the Mac too, including Powerpoint, and not just Word.

How Do I Convert Word to PDF Without Office Using?

If you don’t have a Mac with Microsoft Office handy but you need to convert a DOC or DOCX file into a PDF format, you’ll have to use a roundabout method to accomplish the task instead. This isn’t too difficult however, it’s just a matter of combining two tips:

  • First, open the DOC / DOCX file on Mac with TextEdit

  • Next, use File > Print and choose “Save As PDF” to print the file as a PDF as described here

You can use the PDF saving trick to with just about any document on the Mac, which is part of what makes it such a powerful feature. If you find yourself doing this often, you’d likely want to setup the Save as PDF keyboard shortcut for the Mac, which makes quick work of this task.

FAQS

Q1: How do I convert a Word document to PDF without losing formatting?

Ans: The latest versions (after MS Office 2007) allow you to save the document as a pdf, thus avoiding formatting errors. Go to Files->Save As and select ". pdf format" from Save As Type. Click to save.

Q2: Can you convert multiple Word documents to PDF at once on Mac?

Ans: You can quickly combine multiple files into a PDF from your desktop or a Finder window. On your Mac, click the Finder icon in the Dock to open a Finder window. Select the files you want to combine into a PDF.

Benefits of Using WPS

WPS Office is compatible with a number of operating systems, including Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, and other MAC-based systems. It may be used on desktop computers or mobile devices to offer users a range of document services. Furthermore, it is office software that allows for online editing. Visit the official website right now to download and take advantage of the free membership features. You'll get a free week of access and can utilize all the editing tools there. Understanding different PDF document merging and conversion techniques is really helpful for future work, and in my opinion, it will also serve as the finest office assistant.


15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.