Fix PDF Text Appearing as Gibberish After Conversion
Question details
The user experiences unreadable, gibberish characters when trying to convert a PDF file into editable formats like DOC, DOCX, or TXT.
- Product
- WPS PDF
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting a PDF document to Word or Text formats for editing purposes.
- Observed behavior
- The converted output file displays strange, unreadable symbols instead of the original text.
Check whether the gibberish text appears in the original PDF itself or only in the converted Word document, as conversion gibberish is typically caused by missing font subsets or improper Unicode mapping in the source file.
Use OCR to Bypass Font Encoding Issues
When the underlying text encoding in a PDF is broken, using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) bypasses the corrupted text layer and reads the visual characters directly.
PDF files that use non-standard fonts without proper Unicode mapping cannot be translated directly into text formats like DOCX. The converter reads the raw data, which results in gibberish.
By using the OCR feature during conversion, the software scans the visual appearance of the letters (like a picture) and recreates the text, eliminating the encoding problem.
Launch WPS Office and open the problematic PDF file.
Navigate to the 'Tools' tab on the top ribbon and select 'OCR' or 'PDF to Word'.
In the conversion dialog box, ensure the 'OCR' option is checked or enabled. Choose the language of your document if prompted.
Click 'Start' to convert the document. The resulting Word or TXT file should now display readable text.
Embed Fonts Before Creating the PDF
If you are the creator of the original document, re-saving the file with embedded fonts can prevent conversion errors later.
Convert PDFs Accurately with WPS Office
WPS Office features an advanced PDF to Word converter equipped with highly accurate OCR technology, helping you bypass font encoding issues and avoid gibberish text entirely.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the free version of WPS Office on your device.
- 2. Open your PDF: Launch WPS PDF and open the file that is causing conversion issues.
- 3. Select PDF to Word: Go to the 'Tools' tab and click on the 'PDF to Word' feature.
- 4. Enable OCR and Convert: Turn on the OCR toggle in the settings menu and click 'Start' to get a perfectly readable Word document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF turn into weird symbols when converted to Word?
This happens when the PDF uses custom or subset fonts without proper Unicode mapping. The converter cannot translate the visual letters into standard computer text, resulting in weird symbols or gibberish.
Can I fix a PDF that is already full of gibberish before conversion?
If the source PDF itself displays gibberish when you open it in a PDF reader, the file is likely corrupted or missing critical font data. You will need to request a new copy from the sender or recreate the file.
Does OCR guarantee 100% accuracy when fixing gibberish text?
While OCR significantly improves text recovery from encoded or scanned PDFs, accuracy depends on the document's font style and image quality. You may still need to do minor proofreading after the conversion.
How do I know if my PDF has embedded fonts?
You can check this in your PDF reader. In WPS PDF, go to 'Menu' > 'Document Properties' and check the 'Fonts' tab to see if the fonts used in the document are listed as 'Embedded' or 'Embedded Subset'.
