PDF Conversion Issues

Fix Scanned PDF Converting to Word with Incorrect Text and Symbols

Natalie Taylor Oct 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users experience garbled text, added symbols, and inaccurate characters when converting a scanned PDF document to an editable Microsoft Word format.

Fix Scanned PDF Converting to Word with Incorrect Text and Symbols

Product: PDF to Word Converter
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Converting a scanned PDF to a recognizable, editable Word document using Optical Character Recognition (OCR).
Observed behavior: The converted Word document contains incorrect text, unreadable symbols, and formatting errors instead of accurate alphanumeric characters.

Before you start

Check the original scanned PDF to ensure the text is highly legible without heavy shadows, blurriness, or overlapping watermarks, as OCR technology requires clear visual contrast to function properly.

Solution 1Recommended

Improve Original Scan Quality and Resolution

Enhancing the source document's resolution and contrast is the most effective way to improve OCR character recognition accuracy.

OCR engines rely on recognizing the distinct shapes of letters. Low-resolution scans, blurry text, or poor contrast often cause the software to misinterpret letters as random symbols or incorrect characters. Rescanning the document at a higher quality standard is usually required.

Clean the physical document

Ensure the original paper document is free of smudges, folds, or dirt that might interfere with text recognition.

Adjust scanner settings

Access your scanner's settings menu and change the resolution to at least 300 DPI (Dots Per Inch).

Enhance contrast

Set the scanner to 'Black and White' or 'Grayscale' mode and increase the contrast slider to make the text stand out clearly against the background.

Rescan and convert

Save the new, high-quality scan as a PDF and run it through your PDF to Word converter again.

Improve Original Scan Quality and Resolution

Optimal OCR Settings: A resolution between 300 and 600 DPI provides the perfect balance for OCR. Higher resolutions create oversized files without significantly improving accuracy.

Solution 2

Verify and Change Document Language Settings

Setting the correct language ensures the OCR software references the correct character dictionary, preventing non-standard letters from becoming garbled symbols.

Advanced OCR Tool

Use WPS Office for Highly Accurate PDF to Word OCR

WPS Office features an advanced built-in OCR engine that intelligently recognizes text, complex layouts, and formatting from scanned PDFs, accurately converting them into fully editable Word documents without garbled symbols.

1. Open your scanned PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the scanned PDF document you want to convert.
2. Access PDF to Word: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab on the top ribbon and select 'PDF to Word'.
3. Enable OCR: In the conversion dialog box, ensure the OCR option is checked and select the primary language of your document.
4. Convert and edit: Click 'Start' to begin the conversion. WPS Office will process the scanned images into a clean, editable Word document.

Highly accurate text recognition for standard and complex scanned documentsIntelligently retains original document formatting, tables, and page layoutsSeamless format compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx)Supports multiple international languages for precise character extraction

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my converted Word document show random wingdings or symbols?

This happens when the OCR engine encounters blurry pixels, complex background patterns, or fonts it cannot recognize. The software attempts to guess the character but fails, resulting in incorrect symbols or garbled wingdings instead of the actual letter.

Can I fix garbled text in a PDF without having to rescan it?

Sometimes. You can try using image enhancement software to increase the contrast, sharpen the text, and remove background noise from the existing PDF pages before running the OCR conversion again. However, if the original scan is heavily pixelated, rescanning is the only viable option.

Does handwritten text convert accurately to Word?

Standard OCR technology is optimized for printed or typed text. Cursive handwriting or messy print is notoriously difficult for OCR engines to parse and will often result in a document full of incorrect text and symbols.

What is the best scan resolution for accurate text recognition?

A scanning resolution of 300 DPI (Dots Per Inch) in Grayscale or Black & White mode is widely considered the industry standard for optimal OCR performance.

PDF Troubleshooting