PDF Conversion Issues

Fix PDF Export to Word Producing Symbols Instead of Text

Huma Ashraf Ch Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

Converting a PDF to a Word document results in unreadable symbols, gibberish, or logos instead of standard text.

Fix PDF Export to Word Producing Symbols Instead of Text

Product: PDF Converter
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Exporting or converting a PDF file into Microsoft Word format for editing.
Observed behavior: The exported Word document displays garbled symbols and incorrect characters instead of the original readable text.

Before you start

Verify if the original PDF contains selectable text by attempting to highlight a sentence with your cursor; if you cannot highlight the text, the document is a scanned image and requires OCR.

Solution 1Recommended

Perform the Conversion Using OCR (Optical Character Recognition)

If the source PDF is a scanned image, standard text extraction will fail and output symbols. Using OCR forces the software to recognize text from images.

Standard PDF to Word conversion simply extracts the text layer embedded in the file. When dealing with scanned papers or image-based PDFs, there is no text layer, which often leads to garbled outputs.

Open PDF Converter

Launch your PDF application and open the problematic file.

Select Export Option

Navigate to the 'Tools' menu and select the 'Export PDF' or 'PDF to Word' feature.

Enable OCR Settings

Click on 'Settings' or 'Advanced' within the export dialog, and ensure the 'Recognize Text' or 'OCR' option is checked.

Export the Document

Click 'Export' or 'Convert' to process the document into a readable Word file.

OCR Requirement: OCR processing may take slightly longer than a standard conversion, but it ensures high accuracy for scanned files.

Solution 2

Check and Recreate the PDF with Embedded Fonts

Missing or unsupported font encodings in the original PDF can cause the text to be replaced with symbols during conversion.

Solution 3

Use an Alternative Online Converter

Local desktop application glitches or outdated software versions can sometimes cause export errors.

Professional PDF Converter

Convert PDF to Word Accurately with WPS Office

WPS Office features a powerful built-in PDF to Word converter equipped with advanced OCR technology. It seamlessly identifies text from scanned documents and retains the original formatting without outputting gibberish or symbols.

1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF file you wish to convert.
2. Access the Converter: Go to the 'Tools' tab on the top ribbon and select 'PDF to Word'.
3. Enable OCR: If the document is scanned, the system will prompt you to use OCR. Confirm the OCR language matches the document text.
4. Start Conversion: Click 'Start' to convert. The accurately formatted Word document will automatically open in WPS Writer.

Advanced OCR engine for highly accurate text recognition from scanned imagesFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsMaintains original document layout, fonts, and formattingQuick and reliable local conversion without file size limits

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my converted Word document only show wingdings or square boxes?

This happens when the original PDF uses custom fonts that were not properly embedded, or when the file encoding is damaged. The converter attempts to match the missing font but defaults to symbol sets instead.

How can I tell if my PDF is a scanned image instead of a text document?

Open the PDF and try to click and drag your cursor to highlight a single sentence or word. If the entire page turns blue or you cannot highlight individual words, it is a flat scanned image.

Does using OCR alter the original formatting of my document?

While modern OCR technology is highly accurate at preserving layout, complex documents with overlapping images and text may require minor manual adjustments in Word after conversion.

PDF Troubleshooting