PDF Editing Issues

How to Delete Pictures and Edit Text in a PDF Converted to Word

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to know how to remove images and modify text content in a Word document that was originally converted from a PDF file.

How to Delete Pictures and Edit Text in a PDF Converted to Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing a document that has just been converted from PDF format into a Word file and downloaded to a local computer.
Observed behavior: The user wants to successfully bypass any protected view modes, select unwanted pictures for deletion, and modify existing text.

Before you start

Ensure that your PDF to Word conversion has been completed successfully and that you have downloaded the resulting Word document (.docx or .doc) to an easily accessible folder on your device.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable Editing and Modify Content in Microsoft Word

The standard method for modifying a converted document by enabling editing mode and using standard Word tools.

When a PDF is converted and downloaded from the internet, Microsoft Word often opens it in Protected View for security reasons. You must enable editing before making any changes to text or images.

Open the Converted File

Locate the downloaded Word document on your computer and double-click to open it in Microsoft Word.

Enable Editing

Look for a yellow warning banner at the top of the window that says 'Protected View'. Click the 'Enable Editing' button on this banner to unlock the document.

Delete Pictures

Click on any picture you want to remove to select it, then press the 'Delete' or 'Backspace' key on your keyboard.

Edit Text

Click anywhere inside the text paragraphs to place your cursor, then type to add new text or use the 'Backspace' key to remove existing text.

Enable Editing and Modify Content in Microsoft Word

Formatting Tips: Converted PDFs may format text inside individual text boxes or frames to preserve the original layout. You may need to click on the border of a text box to delete or move the entire block of text at once.

Edit Converted PDFs Seamlessly

Easily Convert and Edit PDFs with WPS Office

Skip the hassle of switching between multiple apps. WPS Office offers a built-in PDF to Word converter that preserves original formatting, allowing you to instantly delete images and edit text within a single, seamless application.

1. Open PDF in WPS: Launch WPS Office, click 'Open', and select your PDF file from your local drive.
2. Convert to Word: Go to the 'Tools' tab and select 'PDF to Word' to convert the file into an editable document.
3. Edit the Document: Once converted, the file will open automatically in WPS Writer. Simply click on images to delete them and type directly into the document to edit text.

Seamless PDF to Word conversion with high formatting retentionFully compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.docx, .doc)Intuitive text and image editing tools in WPS WriterLightweight application that runs smoothly on most devices

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I edit the text in my converted Word document?

If the original PDF was created from scanned images, the converted Word document might only contain images of text rather than actual text characters. You will need to use a PDF to Word converter equipped with OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology to extract the text and make it editable.

How do I remove a background image from a converted PDF?

Background images or watermarks might be anchored to the header or footer of the document during conversion. Double-click the header or footer area at the top or bottom of the page to activate it, click the background image to select it, and press the Delete key.

Why does the formatting shift after I delete a picture?

Converted documents often rely on specific text wrapping settings to maintain the original PDF layout. When you delete an image, the surrounding text might shift to fill the gap. You can adjust this by selecting the text and modifying the paragraph alignment or dragging the text boxes back into place.

PDF Troubleshooting