Create a PDF from a Word Document

Last Modified on 04/02/2026 1:28 pm CDT

All Microsoft Office products can produce PDF documents. There are advantages to using PDF in your course rather than original files produced in Microsoft 365 products:

  • The document looks the same for every student no matter what operating system or browser they use.
  • The PDF format is ubiquitous and works on any operating system.
  • Saving as PDF usually compresses the file size.

See the following instructions for creating a PDF from a Microsoft 365 Word file.

Export Your File as a PDF Document

  1. Open your Word 365 document.

  2. Click on the [File] menu.

    Shows the File tab in the Microsoft Word 365 ribbon.
  3. Choose [Export] and click the [Create PDF/XPS Document] option, then click the [Create PDF/XPS] button.

    Shows the Export option with Create PDF/XPS Document selected in Microsoft Word 365.
  4. Choose a location to save your file and enter a name in the File Name box. Then click [Save].

    Shows the Save dialog with the File Name field and Save button for exporting a PDF from Word 365.

Save as a PDF

  1. Open your Word 365 document.

  2. Click on the [File] menu.

    Shows the File tab in the Microsoft Word 365 ribbon.
  3. Choose [Save a Copy] or [Save as Adobe PDF].

    Shows the Save a Copy and Save as Adobe PDF options in the Word 365 File menu.
  4. If you choose [Save a Copy], click the Type dropdown arrow to see the available file types and select [PDF].

    Shows the Type dropdown with PDF selected as the file type in the Save a Copy dialog.
  5. Type a name for the file in the File Name field, verify PDF is selected as the file type, and click [Save].

    Shows the File Name field with PDF selected as the file type and the Save button in the Save a Copy dialog.

Troubleshooting and Support

If you need additional assistance, contact the IT Service Desk at 281.318.HELP (4357).

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