Learn how to upload a PDF to a Google Doc using uploads options or PDF converters, plus tips for fixing formatting issues and preserving layouts.

To upload a PDF to a Google Doc, you can either upload the file to Google Drive and open it with Google Docs, or drag and drop the PDF directly into Google Drive before opening it with Google Docs. Alternatively, you can convert the file with a dedicated PDF converter before uploading it.

In this guide, we will walk you through three methods for uploading PDFs to Google Docs, explain how to fix common formatting issues, and cover the limitations you should be aware of before converting your files. Let’s begin!

If you need to insert a PDF into a Doc for editing, uploading it to Google Drive and opening it with Google Docs is the most straightforward method.

Dragging and dropping a PDF into Google Drive offers a faster way to upload and convert files without navigating upload menus.

To better preserve formatting and improve editing accuracy, you can consider converting the PDF with a dedicated tool before uploading it to Google Docs.

Most formatting issues, such as shifted text, missing images, and distorted tables, can be corrected with manual adjustments after conversion.

While Google Docs can handle many PDFs, limitations such as formatting loss, file size restrictions, scanned documents, and unsupported multimedia elements can affect the conversion process.

How to Upload a PDF to a Google Doc: 3 Methods

 through Google Drive and open it with Google Docs, drag and drop the file directly into Google Drive before converting it, or use a PDF converter to create an editable document before uploading.

With that said, let’s examine each method in more detail.

#1. Upload a PDF to Google Drive & Open With Google Docs

One way to open a PDF in Google Docs is by uploading it to Google Drive and then opening it. Here are the steps to follow:

in the top left corner to upload your PDF to Google Drive.


Upload a PDF to Google Drive & Open With Google Docs

Right-click the uploaded PDF to reveal dropdown options.


Right-click the uploaded PDF to reveal dropdown options

. This will automatically convert your PDF to an editable document.

#2. Drag-and-Drop Upload into Google Drive

Another way to edit a PDF in Google Docs is by dragging and dropping it into Google Drive. You can follow these steps:

Drag and drop your PDF into the interface to import the PDF into Google Docs.


Drag-and-Drop PDF File Upload into Google Drive

Select Open with > Google Docs to convert it to Google Docs.

You can also turn the PDF into a Google Doc by clicking on it and selecting Open with Google Docs in the top right corner.

#3. Use pdf.net’s Converter Tool Before Uploading to Google Drive

If the formatting of your PDF becomes distorted after converting it in Google Docs, such as text shifting, images moving out of place, or layouts breaking, you 

may get better results by converting the PDF before uploading it to Google Drive.

help preserve the original structure of the document, 

making it easier to edit once it is opened in Google Docs. Here is how to use our online PDF converter before uploading your file to Google Drive:

Use pdf.net’s Converter Tool Before Uploading to Google Drive

Hover over Convert at the top of the page

Choose PDF to Word from the dropdown options

Upload the PDF from your storage via the 

 button or use the drag-and-drop option.


Upload the PDF from your storage via the Choose file button or use the drag-and-drop

After the upload is completed, a new prompt window will open. 

Select DOCX in the new prompt window and click Convert to DOCX in the top right corner

Upload the converted file to Google Drive using method #1 or #2 above.

PDF-to-Docs conversion produces six recurring issues, each fixable with a quick manual adjustment.

: Review headings, paragraphs, and spacing throughout the document. Use 

Google Docs' alignment and indentation tools

: Google Docs may replace unsupported fonts with similar alternatives. Compare the converted document to the original PDF and manually select a closer font if necessary.

: Resize columns and rows manually, or copy the content of your PDF file into the Google Doc to recreate heavily formatted tables if the original structure was not preserved during conversion.

: Some images may disappear during conversion, while others may shift to the wrong position on the page. 

 and use Google Docs' image wrapping and positioning tools to place them correctly within the document.

Page breaks appear in the wrong locations

: PDF pages don't always translate perfectly into Google Docs, which can result in awkward page breaks. Review the document section by section and manually add, remove, or move page breaks to restore the intended layout and 

Special characters or symbols display incorrectly

: Certain symbols, accented letters, mathematical characters, or other special formatting elements may not convert properly. Replace any incorrect characters manually by copying them from the source file or inserting them through Google Docs' special character feature.

Edit text, add annotations, and rearrange pages directly in your browser.

Skip the Formatting Headaches of Google Docs

Limitations of Uploading PDFs to Google Docs

Before converting, it’s worth knowing where Google Docs falls short, so you can plan for manual cleanup.

, spacing, and styling may change during conversion. Documents with extensive formatting often require manual cleanup to match the appearance of the original PDF.

: PDFs containing text boxes, layered elements, graphics, or multi-section designs can be difficult for Google Docs to interpret. As a result, content may appear out of order or lose its intended structure.

: If your PDF is a scanned image rather than a text-based document, Google Docs may struggle to recognize and convert the content accurately. In these cases, using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software before uploading can improve results.

: Structured elements such as tables, columns, and forms are particularly prone to conversion errors. Column widths, cell spacing, and table formatting may change, requiring you to manually adjust or recreate parts of the document.

: Google Docs places limits on PDF uploads and conversions. If your PDF file isn't uploading to Google Docs, the document may exceed the supported 

. Compressing the PDF or splitting it into smaller files can often resolve the issue.

Multimedia and interactive elements may not be supported

, animations, hyperlinks, form fields, or other 

 may not convert correctly in Google Docs. These elements can be removed entirely or lose their functionality during the conversion process.

Edit PDFs Effortlessly Online With pdf.net

With pdf.net, you can upload a PDF, edit text, 

, and make other changes directly in your browser before downloading the finished file as a PDF or DOCX.

This can be a simpler alternative when Google Docs alters formatting or struggles with complex layouts. For additional assistance, pdf.net also offers AI-powered tools that help you work with your PDF's content more efficiently.

Uploading a PDF to Google Docs is a quick way to view and 

 without installing additional software. Whether you upload the file through Google Drive, drag and drop it into your account, or convert it before uploading, the process only takes a few minutes.

However, Google Docs is not always ideal for complex PDFs, especially those with advanced formatting, tables, scanned pages, or multimedia elements. If preserving formatting and editing accuracy is important, consider using a dedicated 

#1. Can I edit a PDF directly in Google Docs?

Yes, you can edit PDF content in Google Docs,

 as it converts a PDF into an editable document when you open it. However, complex layouts, images, tables, and fonts may not transfer perfectly and could require manual adjustments.

#2. Can scanned PDFs be uploaded to Google Docs?

Yes, you can upload scanned PDFs to Google Drive 

and open them in Google Docs. However, because scanned PDFs are image-based rather than text-based, they can’t be converted into an editable document without OCR.

#3. Why won't Google Docs let me upload a PDF?

Google Docs may not upload a PDF if the file exceeds the 50 MB size limit

, has become corrupted, or contains unsupported elements. Connection issues and temporary Google Drive errors can also prevent uploads. Compressing the PDF may help resolve the problem.

#4. What is the best way to convert a PDF to Google Docs without losing formatting?

There is no guaranteed way to preserve all formatting during conversion

, especially for complex documents. For better results, convert the PDF to a DOCX file using a dedicated PDF converter (like pdf.net) before uploading it to Google Docs, then review the formatting after conversion.

How to Upload a PDF To a Google Doc: 3 Easy Methods

Can't highlight text in a PDF? Discover the common causes, such as scanned documents, restrictions, and conversion errors, along with the best fixes.

If you can't highlight text in a PDF, the document may contain scanned images, restricted permissions, conversion errors, or other issues that prevent text selection and annotation. This can make it difficult to review documents, add comments, and collaborate with others.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to identify the cause of the problem and apply the most effective solutions. We’ll cover how to check whether a PDF contains selectable text, common reasons highlighting does not work, practical fixes for each issue, and tips to prevent text-selection problems in future PDFs.

You can check whether a PDF has selectable text by attempting to highlight text or searching for words within the document.

Common fixes include running OCR on scanned PDFs, removing document restrictions, reconverting the file properly, and trying a different PDF reader.

Additional solutions include turning off read-only mode, updating your PDF software, repairing a corrupted PDF, and verifying that the content is not image-based.

You can prevent future highlighting issues by reviewing PDFs before sharing, maintaining consistent PDF creation practices, and ensuring documents are configured for text selection and annotation when needed.

How to Check If Your PDF Has Selectable Text

A quick way to check whether your PDF contains selectable text is to open the file and try highlighting a few words with your cursor. 

and search for a word that appears in the document. If you can find matching text using this function, the 

 and text-based. On the other hand, if the text can’t be highlighted, copied, or searched, your PDF may not contain selectable text and could be a scanned image.

7 Fixes for Not Being Able to Highlight Text in a PDF Document

If you can’t highlight text in a PDF, the file may be a scanned image, protected by security settings, opened in the wrong viewing mode, or corrupted. That said, let’s examine the seven most common fixes in case you can’t highlight text in a PDF.

#1. Convert Scanned PDF to Editable Text (OCR Solution)

One of the most common reasons you can’t highlight text is

While the document looks like it contains text, the words are stored as pixels rather than searchable characters, making text selection impossible.

 analyzes the scanned pages and converts the visible text into machine-readable characters. Once processing is complete, you can search, copy, and highlight content normally.

If you need to enable text selection in a PDF, apply OCR since it’s usually the most effective solution. After conversion, 

 and test if the text can be selected and copied.

In some cases, you can’t highlight text due to

, which can block highlighting in two ways. Some documents require a password just to open, while others can be opened freely but have 

 that prevent content selection or annotation.

If you can open the PDF but can't highlight, the issue is a permission restriction. Check whether the document has permission restrictions that block annotations or text selection. If the document requires a password to open, you can use our 

 tool. Here’s how to do it step by step:

Go to our unlock tool and upload your PDF or use the drag-and-drop option.


Go to our unlock tool and upload your PDF

Enter the correct key and click Remove the password

Wait for the tool to remove the password and click 

Wait for the tool to remove the password and click Continue

Once you gain access, try highlighting the text again

Sometimes, the issue is not with the PDF viewer or document permissions but with 

Poor conversion settings can flatten text into images, corrupt text layers, or create formatting issues that prevent highlighting from working correctly.

To fix this, return to the original file and 

. Make sure the conversion process preserves the document's text layer rather than saving each page as an image. You can achieve this with one of pdf.net’s online converters.

For example, if you made your PDF from an original Word file, you can use our 

 to recreate it. Here are the steps to follow:

Open the converter and upload or drag-and-drop your Word document.


Can't highlight text in PDF - Reconvert the PDF Properly

Wait for the conversion to finish and click 

Wait for the conversion to finish and click Download PDF

, or highlighting features, which can make it seem as though the PDF is not working correctly.

If you're viewing PDFs directly in a browser tab, downloading the file and opening it in a dedicated 

 may recognize the document's text layer and provide better support.

If you can't select text in your PDF using one reader but the same file works in another, the issue is likely software-related

rather than a problem with the PDF itself.

If you can’t copy text from PDFs that appear normal,

 may be the cause. When this mode is enabled, 

highlighting tools may appear unavailable

 even though the document contains selectable text.

. For example, PDFs downloaded from the Internet, received as email attachments, or distributed by organizations may open in a protected mode to prevent unauthorized changes or potentially harmful content from running within the file.

Check your PDF reader for options such as "Read-Only," "Protected View," or similar security settings. If you have permission to modify the document, 

switch to a standard viewing or editing mode and reopen the file. 

Once the restriction is disabled, try selecting and highlighting text again.

Outdated PDF software can sometimes cause highlighting tools to malfunction. Older versions might have bugs, compatibility issues, or limited support for newer 

, making it difficult to interact with certain documents.

Check whether an update is available for your PDF reader or editor and 

Software updates often include bug fixes and improvements related to annotations, text recognition, and document rendering. After updating, 

A damaged or partially corrupted PDF can 

prevent text from displaying or functioning correctly. 

Even if the document appears normal at first glance, issues within the file structure may interfere with text highlighting tools.

Try downloading the PDF again, requesting a new copy from the sender, or opening a backup version if one is available. You can also use a 

to rebuild the file structure. Once the repaired PDF is saved, test whether text can be highlighted.

To avoid future issues with PDF text selection and annotation, keep these six tips in mind:

. After creating a PDF, try selecting and highlighting a few lines of text. Catching a problem early is much easier than troubleshooting it after the file has been distributed.

Keep scanned and digital PDFs organized separately

 are more likely to experience text-selection issues than text-based ones. Knowing which files originated from a scanner can help you apply OCR before problems arise.

Review PDFs after major edits or conversions

. Text layers can sometimes be affected when documents are merged, compressed, exported, or converted between formats. A quick review helps confirm that highlighting and text selection still work as expected.

Establish PDF standards across your organization

, use consistent tools and export settings. This reduces the risk of generating files with incompatible formatting or missing text layers.

. Retaining the original Word, PowerPoint, or design file makes it easier to 

 if text-selection problems are discovered later. It also reduces reliance on editing or repairing the PDF itself.

. Documents that are stored for long periods may eventually be accessed by new software or users with different needs. Checking important files occasionally helps ensure they remain searchable, selectable, and ready for annotation.

Make PDFs Searchable, Selectable, and Easy to Annotate

Convert scanned PDFs into searchable text, create properly formatted PDFs, and prepare documents for highlighting, commenting, and collaboration with pdf.net.

 to keep your documents safe. Spend less time troubleshooting PDF text-selection issues and more time getting the work done.

Upload your file, mark key sections, adjust formatting, and more—no downloads needed.

Edit, Annotate, and Organize Your PDFs in Seconds

If you can’t highlight text in a PDF, the issue is usually caused by scanned content, document restrictions, conversion errors, software limitations, or file corruption. Fortunately, most of these problems can be resolved without recreating the document from scratch.

Start by identifying whether the PDF contains selectable text, then work through the relevant fixes until highlighting functionality is restored. Taking a few preventive steps when creating, sharing, and managing PDFs can also help you avoid similar issues in the future. With the right tool, like pdf.net, your PDFs can remain searchable, selectable, and easy to annotate.

#1. How do I enable text selection in a PDF?

To enable text selection in your PDF, first determine whether the document contains actual text. If the file is image-based, 

 to create a searchable text layer. You should also 

Not all PDFs can be made editable without preprocessing. Some files contain scanned images, restricted permissions, or flattened content that must be processed first. In these cases, 

#3. How to unlock a PDF for highlighting?

To unlock a PDF for highlighting, review the document's security settings and determine whether annotations or text selection are restricted. If you have authorization from the document owner, you can 

Why You Can’t Highlight Text in a PDF: Common Issues and Easy Fixes

Find out why your PDF is printing blank, how to fix this issue, and what to do to prevent it from happening in the future.

file may be corrupted, the printer driver and PDF viewer may be outdated, or the font may be unembedded

. In these cases, your best bet is to try several fixes and see which one brings the best results.

That said, we’ll explore some of the most common reasons a PDF prints empty pages, as well as potential fixes for each of these issues. Furthermore, we will share what to do to prevent such problems in the future.

If your PDF is printing blank pages, the issue may be with the file, your printer driver, your PDF reader, fonts and encoding, or hidden and transparent layers.

You can fix some of these issues by updating your drivers and PDF readers, redownloading the file, or embedding the fonts before exporting a PDF.

The best and most versatile solution is to save a PDF as an image or convert it into a JPG before printing.

corrupted PDF file, a printer driver issue, problems with PDF viewers, hidden layers or transparent content, or font and encoding

. Luckily, most of these are fairly easy to fix in just a few minutes.

Here’s a quick overview of potential causes of 

Now, let’s take a closer look at all these issues and fixes for blank PDFs after printing.

Printing issues may stem from a corrupted 

, which may display normally on your computer, but then fail to render on paper. This often happens because 

part of a PDF file might not have been downloaded properly

 from the source, or because it was created with errors in the first place.

If you suspect this is the cause of your printing issues, it’s best to 

go back to the source and try redownloading it

. Sometimes, the corruption occurs due to an unstable internet connection, so make sure there are no interruptions as you transfer the file.

However, if this doesn’t help, the issue may be with the file itself. In that case, try to contact the owner and request a fixed copy. If this isn’t possible, open the file in a PDF reader like 

Printer driver issues commonly affect PDF printing, as outdated drivers may be 

unable to establish communication between the file and the device

. As a consequence, the output suffers, and the pages come out blank.

Updating or reinstalling your printer driver is the best solution for this problem. However, first, you need to uninstall your current driver by taking the following steps:

PDF printing blank due to printer driver issues

Click on View devices and printers in the Hardware and Sound section

 and locate yours, then right-click it and select 

Scroll to Printers and locate yours, then right-click it and select Remove device

Once you’ve uninstalled your driver, visit the manufacturer’s page and 

. Reinstall it and restart your system to ensure everything configures correctly. After that, try printing the document again.

If your PDF is printing blank or some content is missing, 

your PDF viewer may be the actual culprit

. Some versions, especially older ones, don’t fully support newer PDF formats and advanced features, which can cause printing issues.

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