How to OCR a scanned PDF in Microsoft Word
- Scan the document with your scanner's software and save it as a PDF[1].
- In Word, choose File, then Open, and pick the PDF[1].
- Word says it will convert the PDF into an editable document. Select OK[1].
These steps are for Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016 on the desktop, and Microsoft notes that the web and mobile apps may differ[1]. The original PDF is left as it is, and you work in the converted copy.
Where Word's OCR stops
Microsoft is clear about what the conversion handles. It works best on documents that are mostly text, and the result might not match the original page for page, with lines and pages breaking in different places[1]. Recognition depends on the quality and clarity of the scan, and handwritten text is seldom recognized[2].
Microsoft's steps start from a PDF[1]. A photo from your phone becomes a PDF first, or goes through a tool that reads images directly.
Get a photo or scan into Word with the free tool on this page
- Choose the file. A JPG, PNG, WEBP or HEIC photo, or a one-page PDF, up to 5 MB.
- Press Get the text. The page is read with OCR in a few seconds, with no account.
- Download Word (.docx). Open it in Microsoft Word and edit it like any other document. Tables come back as Word tables.
For a PDF of many pages, or a document to translate, use the LoreAI app. It reads every page, handwriting and stamps included, and returns one Word file with headings, lists and tables in the original order. Your first document is free, up to 3 pages and 3 MB.
What happened to Microsoft Lens for Word?
Microsoft's own help page still calls the free Lens app the best way to scan a document into Word, because it saved straight into Word format[2]. Lens was retired, though. It left the app stores on February 9, 2026 and stopped making new scans on March 9, 2026[3]. Microsoft now points to the OneDrive scanner[3]. The full story and the replacements are on the Microsoft Lens alternative page.
OCR software for Microsoft Word compared
| Option | What goes in | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Word, File then Open | A PDF[1] | An editable copy, best on mostly text pages[1] |
| OneNote, Copy Text from Picture | A picture or printout inside OneNote[4] | Text to paste into Word. Some results take up to 24 to 48 hours[4] |
| Microsoft Lens | Retired in 2026[3] | No new scans after March 9, 2026[3] |
| LoreAI | PDF, JPG, PNG or HEIC, typed or handwritten | A .docx file with headings, lists and tables, translated if you choose |
OneNote is a good fit if you already keep notes there. Right click a picture, choose Copy Text from Picture and paste the text into Word[4]. For a full workflow on PDFs, see OCR PDF to Word, and for paper documents, scan a document to Word.
Questions people ask
Does Microsoft Word have OCR?
Yes, for PDFs. Open a scanned PDF in Word and it converts a copy into an editable document[1].
Can Word read handwriting from a scan?
Microsoft says handwritten text is seldom recognized[2]. LoreAI reads cursive and printed handwriting and returns it in a Word file.
How do I convert a JPG to an editable Word document?
Drop the JPG in the box on this page and download the .docx file. For several photos, upload them to the LoreAI app and get one Word file.
Why does my converted PDF look different in Word?
Microsoft notes that lines and pages may break in different places than in the original PDF[1]. LoreAI rebuilds the headings, lists and tables in the order of the page.
Sources
- Microsoft Support: Scan and edit a document, accessed November 6, 2026
- Microsoft Support: Insert scanned text or images into Word, accessed November 6, 2026
- Microsoft Support: Retirement of Microsoft Lens, accessed November 6, 2026
- Microsoft Support: Copy text from pictures and file printouts using OCR in OneNote, accessed November 6, 2026
By Matt Mountain ·