PDF to RTF

Convert a PDF into a Rich Text Format file that opens in almost any word processor, with headings and lists rebuilt.

Reviewed by Dany, RightSums team · Updated

Runs in your browser. Your files are not uploaded.

pdf-convert-from · PDF tool · UK & US

RTF is an older, widely supported format that opens in Word, WordPad, TextEdit, LibreOffice and many legal and publishing systems that reject DOCX. This tool extracts the selectable text from your PDF and writes an .rtf file with headings, paragraphs and bulleted or numbered lists rebuilt. Headings are picked out by size, and words hyphenated across line ends are rejoined. Tick Start each PDF page on a new page to mirror the original page breaks. Tables become RTF tables and pictures are embedded, with bold and italic kept, though the exact layout is simplified. You can convert all pages or a range, and password-protected PDFs work once you type the password. Scans need PDF OCR first. Nothing is uploaded.

Accepted inputs

  • PDF

Outputs

  • RTF

How to use the PDF to RTF

  1. Open the PDF and enter its password if prompted.
  2. Choose all pages or type a range.
  3. Tick Start each PDF page on a new page to keep the page breaks.
  4. Click Convert and download the .rtf file.

Frequently asked questions

Why convert a PDF to RTF instead of Word?

RTF opens in almost any editor, including WordPad, TextEdit and older or specialist software that cannot read DOCX. If you only use modern Word or Google Docs, PDF to Word is the better choice.

Does the RTF keep images and tables?

No. Only the text is kept, arranged as headings, paragraphs and lists. Yes. Pictures are embedded in the RTF and tables laid out in aligned columns become RTF tables, though complex tables with merged cells may need tidying.

Will fonts and colours match the PDF?

No. The RTF uses simple default styling so it is easy to edit. Headings are marked by size, but the original typefaces, colours and positions are not copied.

Can I convert a scanned PDF?

Not directly. A scanned page has no text for the tool to read, and it will tell you so. Run PDF OCR on the file first, then convert the result to RTF.

Is PDF to RTF conversion private?

Yes. Text is extracted with pdf.js and the file is written in your browser, so the PDF is never uploaded. Password-protected PDFs ask for the password, which is only used on your device.

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