The simplest way: insert the PDF as an image or object

You can embed a PDF directly into a Word document in three ways, depending on whether you want the PDF to stay editable, appear as a clickable link, or display as a static image on the page. The method you choose depends on what you need the reader to do with the PDF once they open your Word file.

The most common approach is to insert the PDF as an object, which preserves the PDF's formatting and makes it part of your Word document. To do this in Word on Windows or Mac, go to the Insert tab, select Object, then choose Create from File. Browse to your PDF, select it, and click Insert. The PDF will appear as a preview in your document, and readers can double-click it to open the full file.

If you want readers to see only a link they can click, use Insert > Hyperlink instead, then paste the file path or browse to the PDF. This keeps your Word document smaller and lets readers open the PDF in their default viewer rather than embedding it.

Key Takeaways

  • Inserting a PDF as an object embeds it into your Word document so readers can double-click to view it without needing a separate file.
  • Creating a hyperlink to a PDF keeps your Word file smaller and opens the PDF in the reader's default viewer when clicked.
  • Converting a PDF to an image and pasting it works when you only need readers to see what the PDF looks like, not interact with it.
  • If you need the PDF content to be editable text in Word, you must convert the PDF to Word format first using an online converter or Word's built-in import feature.
  • Attached PDFs only work if the Word file and PDF are in the same folder or if you use absolute file paths that won't break when files move.

Inserting a PDF as an embedded object

When you insert a PDF as an object, Word creates a preview of the first page inside your document. Readers can see what the PDF contains without opening a separate file, and they can double-click the preview to open the full PDF in their default viewer.

On Windows, open your Word document and go to Insert > Object. In the dialog box, click the Create from File tab, then Browse to find your PDF. Select it and click Open, then Insert. If you check the box labeled Display as Icon, the PDF will show as a small document icon instead of a preview—this saves space if you have many PDFs.

On Mac, the process is similar: Insert > Object > Create from File. Find your PDF and insert it. Mac Word may show the PDF as an icon by default rather than a preview.

One important limitation: this method only works if the PDF file stays in the same location on your computer or network. If you move the PDF to a different folder or send the Word document to someone else without the PDF, the embedded preview will break and show an error message instead.

Creating a clickable link to a PDF

If you want readers to click text or an image to open a PDF, use a hyperlink instead of embedding. This method keeps your Word file smaller and works reliably even if you email the document to others, as long as they have access to the PDF file or you send it separately.

Highlight the text you want to turn into a link, then go to Insert > Hyperlink. In the dialog, select Existing File or Web Page on the left, then Browse to find your PDF. Click OK. The text will now appear as a blue underlined link that opens the PDF when clicked.

You can also link to a PDF on the internet by pasting the full web address (URL) instead of browsing to a file on your computer. This is useful if the PDF is hosted on a website or cloud storage service like Google Drive or OneDrive—just make sure the link stays active and the PDF doesn't move.

Converting a PDF to an image and pasting it

If you only need readers to see what the PDF looks like—not interact with it or search its text—you can convert the PDF to an image and paste it directly into Word. This embeds the image in your document without any file links that could break.

On Windows, open your PDF in Microsoft Edge or another web browser, right-click the page, and select Save image as. Choose a location and save it as a PNG or JPG file. Then in Word, go to Insert > Pictures > This Device, find the image file, and insert it. You can resize the image by dragging its corners.

On Mac, open the PDF in Preview, go to File > Export, and save it as a JPEG or PNG. Then insert it into Word the same way. This method works well for single-page PDFs or when you only need to show a portion of a longer document.

When you need the PDF text to be editable in Word

If you want to edit the content from a PDF directly in Word—not just view it—you need to convert the PDF to a Word document first. Word has a built-in feature for this, though it works best with PDFs that contain mostly text and straightforward formatting.

In Word, go to File > Open, then browse to your PDF file and select it. Word will attempt to convert it to an editable document. The conversion is not always perfect—complex layouts, images, and special fonts may not transfer correctly—but text and basic formatting usually come through.

If Word's conversion doesn't work well, you can use an online PDF-to-Word converter like Smallpdf, ILovePDF, or PDF2Go. Upload your PDF, read the converted Word file, and open it in Word. These tools often handle complex PDFs better than Word's built-in converter, though you should check the privacy policy before uploading sensitive documents.

Keeping file paths working when you share the document

When you link to or embed a PDF in Word, the document needs to know where to find that file. If you move the Word document to a different folder or send it to someone else, the link may break unless you set it up correctly.

The safest approach is to keep the Word document and PDF in the same folder. When you create the link or embed the object, Word will use a relative path—meaning it looks for the PDF in the same location as the Word file, not in a fixed location on your computer. This way, if you move both files together, the link still works.

If you need to send the Word document to someone else, send the PDF file along with it and make sure they put both files in the same folder before opening the Word document. If you're using cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive, upload both files to the same folder in the cloud, and the links will work for anyone with access to that folder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I attach a PDF to Word so it travels with the document when I email it?

Embedding a PDF as an object keeps it inside the Word file, so it travels with the document. However, the embedded preview only works if the original PDF file stays in its original location. For true portability, convert the PDF to an image and paste it, or use a hyperlink and send the PDF as a separate attachment.

What's the difference between embedding a PDF and linking to it?

Embedding puts the PDF inside the Word file so readers see a preview and can double-click to open it. Linking creates a clickable text or image that opens the PDF in a separate viewer. Embedding makes the Word file larger; linking keeps it smaller but requires the PDF file to be accessible.

Why does my embedded PDF show an error message?

The PDF file has likely moved or been deleted. Word stores a reference to where the PDF is located, not a copy of the file itself. Move the PDF back to its original location, or re-embed it from its new location.

Can I edit text from a PDF directly in my Word document?

Not by embedding or linking. You must convert the PDF to Word format first using Word's built-in converter or an online tool. The conversion works best with text-heavy PDFs and may not preserve complex layouts or images accurately.

Is it safe to use online PDF converters with confidential documents?

Online converters upload your file to their servers, which poses a privacy risk for sensitive information. For confidential documents, use Word's built-in PDF import feature instead, or check the converter's privacy policy to understand how they handle uploaded files.