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How to Fix PDF to DOCX Conversion and File Association Issues
Question details
Users are experiencing issues converting PDF files to editable DOCX documents, and DOCX files are incorrectly opening as PDFs due to file association errors.
- Product
- PDF Reader and Word Processor
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Converting PDFs to Word documents or attempting to open existing DOCX files from the file explorer.
- Observed behavior
- PDFs fail to convert to editable Word formats, or DOCX files automatically open in a PDF viewer instead of a word processor.
Ensure that you have Microsoft Word or a compatible word processor installed on your computer before attempting to reassign file associations.
Restore Word as the Default App for DOCX Files
Use this method if your DOCX files are accidentally opening in a PDF reader instead of your word processor.
This issue frequently occurs when a newly installed PDF reader inadvertently takes over the default file association for Word documents.
Find any DOCX file on your Windows computer and right-click on it to open the context menu.
Hover over 'Open with' in the context menu, then click on 'Choose another app' from the extended list.
Choose 'Microsoft Word' (or your preferred document editor) from the list of available applications.
Check the box at the bottom labeled 'Always use this app to open .docx files', then click 'OK' to save the changes.
Troubleshoot Conversion Errors via Customer Support
If your PDF still fails to convert correctly, the source file may be encrypted, corrupted, or require advanced technical support.
Easily Convert PDFs to Word and Open DOCX Files with WPS Office
WPS Office offers a highly accurate built-in PDF to DOCX converter and natively manages Word documents without causing file association conflicts. Manage all your PDFs and office documents within one lightweight application.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office Free on your computer.
- 2. Open the PDF Toolkit: Launch WPS Office and navigate to the 'PDF' tab on the home screen.
- 3. Select PDF to Word: Click on 'PDF to Word' and select the PDF file you wish to convert.
- 4. Convert the file: Click 'Convert' to instantly generate an editable DOCX file with retained formatting.
- 5. Set as default: Set WPS Office as your default application to seamlessly open all DOCX and PDF files without future conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my Word documents suddenly opening as PDFs?
This typically happens if a PDF reader was recently installed or updated, which accidentally reassigned the default file association for .docx files. You can fix this by right-clicking a document, selecting 'Open with', and choosing your word processor as the permanent default app.
Can I convert a scanned PDF to an editable Word document?
Yes, but it requires an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature. Basic PDF readers cannot extract text from images, but advanced suites like WPS Office have built-in OCR tools to turn scanned PDFs into editable DOCX files.
What should I do if a converted DOCX file loses its original formatting?
Complex PDFs with intricate layouts, non-standard fonts, or layered images might lose formatting during conversion. To prevent this, use a dedicated PDF converter with high-fidelity formatting retention, or manually adjust the layout in your word processor post-conversion.
How do I ensure Word is the default app for all document types in Windows?
Navigate to Windows Settings > Apps > Default apps. Scroll down to 'Choose default apps by file type', locate formats like .doc and .docx, and explicitly select your preferred word processor for each format.
