The conversion happens in Google Drive, not inside an open Doc. Drive reads the text from the PDF, including scanned pages, and builds a new Google Doc from it.
- Convert one PDF with Google Drive (free, built in)
- Convert many PDFs with an add-on (bulk, from your computer or Drive)
Converting a PDF to Google Docs with Google Drive
Use this when you have one or a few PDFs and want a free, built-in conversion.
- On your computer, open Google Drive.
- Click New > File upload and choose the PDF, or drag it into the Drive window.
- Right-click the uploaded PDF and choose Open with > Google Docs.
- Wait while Drive converts the file. A new Doc opens in a new tab.
- Proofread the text against the original and fix any layout issues.
Result: An editable Google Doc saved in your Drive. The original PDF stays where it was.
Google’s Convert PDF and photo files to text lists what helps conversion:
| Factor | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| File size | 2 MB or smaller |
| Text height | At least 10 pixels |
| Orientation | Right side up; rotate first if needed |
| Fonts | Common fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman |
| Image quality | Sharp, evenly lit, good contrast |
Tip: The same right-click conversion works on photos of pages (.jpeg, .png and .gif). Our guide to OCR an image into a Word document shows that route end to end.
Converting multiple PDFs to Google Docs at once
Use this when you have a folder of PDFs and don’t want to right-click each one.
Drive converts one file at a time. The video above shows a bulk method that uses PDF to Docs, our sister add-on for Google Docs.
- Install PDF to Docs from the Google Workspace Marketplace.
- Open any Google Doc and start the add-on from the Extensions menu.
- Select the PDFs, either from your computer or from Google Drive.
- Choose your output settings and start the conversion.
Result: Each selected PDF becomes its own Google Doc.
According to its Marketplace listing, the conversion runs inside your Google account and the add-on doesn’t need access to your entire Drive. Review its permissions before installing.
Note: Add-on menu labels can change between versions. If a label differs from the steps above, follow the add-on’s own dialog.
Comparing the methods
| Method | Best for | Works on |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Open with > Google Docs | One or a few PDFs, free | Google Drive on a computer |
| PDF to Docs add-on | Many PDFs, local or Drive files | Google Docs in a desktop browser |
Platform differences
- Computer: Google documents Open with > Google Docs for Drive on a computer. Use a desktop browser for conversion.
- Phone or tablet: the mobile apps can open and preview PDFs, but do the conversion on a computer for predictable results.
- Tabs: the converted Doc starts with a single tab. Add tabs afterwards if you want to split it into sections.
Troubleshooting PDF to Google Docs conversion
- Open with doesn’t show Google Docs. Make sure you right-clicked a PDF or image, not a folder or shortcut, and that you’re in Drive on a computer.
- Text is missing or full of errors. The scan is too small, skewed or low-contrast. Rescan at higher resolution, rotate it upright, or split a large PDF into smaller files.
- Tables became plain text. Google says tables and columns are not likely to be detected. Rebuild them with Insert > Table.
- You need a Word file instead. Click File > Download > Microsoft Word (.docx), or follow our guide to convert a PDF to Word for Word’s own converter.
What to do next
- Combine the converted Docs with our guide to merge multiple Google Docs into one.
- Share the edited result by exporting the Google Doc as a PDF.
- Send it to Word users by converting Google Docs to Word.
Browse more conversion how-tos in the convert and export guides.