About the PDF to RTF
RTF (Rich Text Format) opens in almost every word processor, including Microsoft Word, WordPad on Windows, TextEdit on Mac, LibreOffice and Google Docs. This converter reads the text of a PDF and writes an RTF document with bold, larger headings, normal paragraphs, and bulleted and numbered lists, so you can edit the content in the program you already have. Accented letters and other alphabets are written as Unicode, so they appear correctly. Everything is done in your browser.
Updated October 2026
How to use the PDF to RTF
- 1Select a PDF with selectable text.
- 2Press Convert to RTF.
- 3Wait while the pages are read.
- 4Download the .rtf file.
- 5Open it in Word, WordPad, TextEdit or LibreOffice.
How the text is rebuilt
A PDF stores text as pieces placed at exact positions, not as paragraphs. The converter groups pieces into lines, joins lines into paragraphs when the spacing and line endings show they belong together, removes words split by hyphens at line ends, and treats larger text as headings. Bullets and numbers at the start of lines become list items. Running headers, footers and page numbers that repeat on most pages are left out.
What isn't carried over
The aim is clean, editable text with its structure, not a copy of the layout.
- Pictures and drawings
- Tables (their text comes through as lines)
- Multi-column layouts (columns are read across)
- Fonts, colours and exact positions
Editing tips
After opening the RTF, apply your word processor's heading styles to the larger lines if you want an automatic table of contents. Check numbered lists, which arrive as typed numbers rather than automatic numbering.
Saving in another format
Once the RTF is open in Word or LibreOffice, use Save As to keep it as .docx or .odt for further editing, or export it as PDF again when you're done.
RTF in brief
Rich Text Format was created by Microsoft in 1987 to move formatted text between programs. An RTF file is plain text with formatting commands in curly brackets, which is why so many programs can read it. It doesn't store complex layouts, but it is ideal for getting editable text out of a PDF.
Checking the result
Open the RTF and compare the headings and lists with the PDF. If paragraphs are split in odd places, the PDF probably uses columns or text boxes; join them with a quick edit.
Phone and computer
The .rtf file opens in Pages and Word on phones too, though editing is easier on a computer.
Features
- Opens in nearly every word processor
- Bold, larger headings
- Bulleted and numbered lists
- Unicode text
- Hyphenated words rejoined
- No upload
Frequently asked questions
Why choose RTF instead of Word format?
RTF is older and simpler, so it opens everywhere, including WordPad and TextEdit, which can't always open .docx. If you use Microsoft Word, our PDF to Word tool is another option.
Is the layout kept?
The text, headings and lists are kept; the page layout, pictures and columns aren't.
Will accents show correctly?
Yes. Characters outside basic English are written as Unicode codes that every modern word processor reads.
Can I convert RTF back to PDF?
Yes, with our RTF to PDF tool, or with Print to PDF in your word processor.
Why is the result empty?
The PDF is probably scanned: its pages are pictures, not text. Run it through our PDF OCR tool first to add a text layer, then convert the result.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The PDF is read and converted in your browser, so confidential documents never leave your device.
Can Google Docs open RTF?
Yes. Upload the .rtf to Google Drive and open it with Google Docs.
Does it work with very long PDFs?
Yes. Hundreds of pages convert in seconds on a computer, and the RTF opens in any word processor.