Convert Word to PDF on Windows 10 and 11 — Free

Windows 10 and Windows 11 both have built-in ways to create PDFs, but they all require Word (or another app that can open .docx) to be installed first. If you don't have Word, or if the built-in export isn't working, a free browser converter solves it without any software at all. Here are the three fastest free options on Windows, in order of ease.

Option 1: Word's Built-In Save as PDF (Requires Word)

If you have Microsoft Word installed, this is the simplest path. Open your .docx file, go to File → Export → Create PDF/XPS, choose a save location, and click Publish.

Word 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365 all support this natively on Windows 10 and 11. The export is fast and preserves most formatting. Known limitations: hyperlinks don't always convert correctly, and if track changes is enabled, markup can appear in the PDF.

If this option is greyed out or missing, see our guide on fixing Word's Save as PDF feature for troubleshooting steps.

Option 2: Print to PDF via the Windows Print Dialog

Windows 10 and 11 both include a virtual printer called Microsoft Print to PDF. Any application that can open a .docx file — including Word, LibreOffice, and even some web apps — can "print" it to this virtual printer to create a PDF.

To use it: open the file in any app that supports it, press Ctrl+P, change the printer to "Microsoft Print to PDF," and click Print. Choose a save location in the dialog that appears.

The output quality depends on how the source application renders the document. Word produces the most accurate output. LibreOffice is free and handles most .docx files correctly — a good option if you don't have a Word license.

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Option 3: Free Browser Converter — No Word or Software Required

Open the free Word to PDF converter in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox on your Windows machine. Drag in your .docx file and download the PDF. The conversion runs in your browser — no software installation, no account, no file upload to any server.

This is the right option when: you don't have Word installed, Word's export is broken and you need a PDF now, you're on someone else's Windows computer, or you want to ensure no tracked changes appear in the output.

Microsoft Edge is pre-installed on every Windows 10 and 11 machine, so you always have a browser available. The tool works identically in Edge, Chrome, and Firefox.

Which Option Should You Use?

Have Word installed, formatting matters: Use File → Export in Word for the most accurate layout preservation.

Have LibreOffice or another Office suite, no Microsoft Word: Print to PDF via LibreOffice gives good results and costs nothing.

No Office installed, or Word's export isn't working: The browser converter is the fastest path. Drop in the .docx and download the PDF in under 30 seconds.

All three produce PDF/A-compatible output suitable for email, printing, and archiving. The browser converter is also the only option that explicitly processes files locally — your document never reaches a server.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the free browser converter legal to use for business documents?

Yes. The tool runs locally in your browser and does not transmit your files anywhere. There are no terms that restrict commercial use.

Does Windows 11 have a built-in Word to PDF converter?

Not standalone. Windows 11 includes Microsoft Print to PDF (available from any app's print dialog), but you still need an app like Word or LibreOffice to open the .docx file first.

What's the file size limit for the browser converter?

There is no hard limit, but very large files (100+ MB with many high-resolution images) may be slow to process in-browser. Documents under 50MB convert quickly.

Will the PDF look the same as the Word document?

Most formatting is preserved — headings, bold and italic, lists, tables, and images. Very complex layouts with text boxes, columns, or custom fonts may differ slightly.