How to Insert or Attach a PDF Into a Word Document (2026)

You can add a PDF to a Word document in a few different ways depending on what you want: a clickable attachment, a visible preview of the first page, or the PDF's content as an editable image. Here's how to do each on Windows and Mac, and how to get a clean result every time.

Method 1: Insert a PDF as an Object (Attachment)

This embeds the whole PDF so readers can open it from inside your document, like an appendix.

1. In Word, click where you want the PDF to go.
2. Go to Insert > Object (in the Text group).
3. Choose Create from File > Browse and select your PDF.
4. To show it as a clickable icon rather than a full-page preview, tick Display as icon. Leave Link to file unchecked so the PDF is embedded in the document.
5. Click OK.

Readers can double-click the icon to open the embedded PDF.

Method 2: Insert a PDF as an Image

If you want the PDF's content to show on the page (not open in a separate viewer), add it as a picture. Word can only insert image files, so convert the PDF page to an image first.

1. Open PDF Zone's PDF to Images tool.
2. Upload your PDF, it stays on your device, and download each page as a JPG or PNG.
3. In Word, go to Insert > Pictures > This Device and select the image.
4. Resize and position it on the page.

This is the most reliable way to make PDF content appear inline, and it looks identical on every device.

Method 3: Bring the PDF's Text Into Word

If you actually need to edit the PDF's content inside Word, insert it as editable text instead:

• Use the Extract Text tool to pull the text out, then paste it into Word, or
• Open the PDF directly in Word (File > Open) to convert it, see our guide on editing a PDF in Word.

Insert a PDF Into Word on a Mac

The steps mirror Windows: Insert > Object > From File to embed it, or Insert > Pictures to add a converted image. If your Word for Mac version doesn't show the Object option, the image method (Method 2) always works.

Only Need One Page?

If the PDF is long but you only want a single page in your document, first pull that page out with the Split PDF tool or delete the rest with Remove Pages, then insert just that page as an image.

Which Method Should You Use?

• Let readers open the full PDF: insert as an object/icon (Method 1).
• Show the content on the page: insert as an image (Method 2).
• Edit the content in Word: bring in the text (Method 3).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I attach a PDF file to a Word document?

Click where you want it, go to Insert > Object > Create from File > Browse, select the PDF, tick Display as icon, and click OK. Readers can double-click the icon to open the embedded PDF.

How do I insert a PDF into Word as an image?

Convert the PDF page to a JPG or PNG using PDF Zone's PDF to Images tool, then in Word choose Insert > Pictures > This Device and select the image.

Why can't I insert my PDF directly as a picture?

Word's Insert > Pictures only accepts image files, not PDFs. Convert the PDF to an image first with the PDF to Images tool, then insert it.

How do I insert only one page of a PDF into Word?

Extract the page first with the Split PDF tool or Remove Pages, convert it to an image, and insert that single image.

What's the difference between inserting as an object and as an image?

An object embeds the whole PDF as a clickable attachment that opens in a viewer. An image shows the PDF's content directly on the Word page but isn't clickable or editable.

How do I insert a PDF into Word on a Mac?

Use Insert > Object > From File to embed it, or convert the PDF to an image with PDF to Images and use Insert > Pictures. The image method works in every Word for Mac version.

Can I edit the PDF's content after inserting it?

Not if you insert it as an object or image, those are static. To edit the content, bring in the text with Extract Text or open the PDF in Word to convert it.

Is it safe to convert my PDF to an image online?

With PDF Zone, yes, the PDF to Images tool runs in your browser and never uploads your file, so confidential documents stay private.

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Sources: Microsoft Support. Add a PDF to your Office file.