you may open Microsoft Word’s DOCX files with many word processors, but they won’t always look the same across different software packages. Not all word processors support the same formatting as Word. Consequently, DOCX files can sometimes look a bit (maybe even very) different when viewed in other software, especially on non-Windows devices.
Fortunately, you can convert DOCX files into the universal PDF file format will ensure they look the same for whomever you share documents with. PDF is a universal file format that preserves original formatting and page layout. This is how you can convert DOCX files to PDFs in Windows 11.
How to Convert DOCX Files Into PDF With Microsoft Word
If you have Microsoft Word installed with an active subscription, you can convert DOCX files to PDF format with that software. Word includes an option for creating XPS and PDF documents.
you may convert DOCX files to PDF with that option as follows:
An alternative method is to save the document as a PDF file in Word. To do that, clickFileandSave as; selectBrowseto view the Save as window and choose a folder in which to include the PDF from there. Click on theSave as typedrop-down menu to select PDF. Then selectSaveto finish.
How to Convert DOCX Files to PDF With a Web App
You can only export one DOCX file at a time to the PDF format with the MS Word method. It’s better to utilize a web app if you need to convert multiple DOCX files to PDFs.
The Online2PDF.com website includes a DOCX to PDF conversion tool, with which you can bulk convert up to 20 files. This is how you can convert DOCX files to PDF with the Online2PDF.com app:
The files should then automatically download to whatever folder location your browser is set to. That directory will probably be your user Downloads folder by default.
When you convert multiple files, one ZIP archive will include all the PDF documents. You’ll need tounzip the ZIP fileto access the PDF documents it contains.
How to Convert DOCX Files to PDF With Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge is Windows 11’s pre-installed browser app. Although Edge doesn’t include a built-in DOCX to PDF converter, you can add such a tool to that browser with the Word to PDF extension.
These are the steps for converting DOCX files to PDF documents with that extension:
To find where your downloaded PDF went, press theCtrl+Jhotkey. That will bring up aDownloadstab where you may click theShow in folderoption for the file. Or clickOpen fileto view the PDF in Edge.
How to Convert DOCX Files to PDF With a Custom Context Menu Option
7-PDF Maker is a freely available software that enables you to add and utilize a context menu option for converting Word documents to PDF files. That software also includes additional settings for PDF conversion.
This is how you’re able to add and utilize a DOCX to PDF conversion context menu option with 7-PDF Maker:
After installing 7-PDF Maker, bring up a folder that includes the DOCX file you want to convert to a PDF.
The new PDF file will be saved in the same folder that includes the Word document you selected to convert. 7-PDF Maker will convert the document to PDF as set within the software’s window.
How to Convert DOCX Files to Password-Protected PDFs
7-PDF Maker also enables you to convert DOCX files to password-protected PDF files. So, you can set up some more secure documents with its encryption feature.
Tocreate a password-protected PDF document, you’ll need to set a password for PDF files via 7-PDF Maker’sSecuritytab as follows:
Now a password box will appear when you or anybody else double-clicks the converted PDF file. To view its contents, you’ll need to input the password set and clickOpenfile.
Also, check out some of the other options available for PDF document conversion in the 7-PDF window. TheGeneraltab includes aPage rangebox with which you can set only a specified range of pages within a Word file to be in the converted PDF document. You can also select alternativeLosslessandJPEG compressionsettings for images in PDF files.
Share Your Word Documents as a PDF File on Windows
You can preserve your MS Word documents’ exact formatting and layouts for file sharing by converting them to PDFs with any of the above Windows 11 methods. As PDF is a non-editable file, it’s also a good idea to convert Word documents to that format if you only want your recipients to view them.
However, recipients can still annotate PDF documents with Edge, web apps, and other Windows 11 software packages.
