3 Free Ways to Convert JPEG Into an Editable Word Document

Free steps to turn a picture into a Word document that you can edit

Don't you wish you could open a JPEG image in Microsoft Word and make changes to the text? While that might seem impossible, we've actually found two easy ways to get the job done—one is to scan for text using an online OCR tool, and the other is to simply "print" the JPEG to a PDF and then convert it to a Word document that you can edit. This wikiHow article teaches you how to easily convert a JPEG into an editable Word document.

Things You Should Know

  • Use an online service, like OnlineOCR, to convert your images into editable Word documents. Just go to the website and select your JPEG to convert to PDF.
  • For Mac or Windows computers, use Preview or Photos to change your JPEG to PDF.
  • Once the JPEG is a PDF, you can open it in Word to edit the text!
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using OnlineOCR

  1. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 1
    1
    Open OnlineOCR. Go to https://www.onlineocr.net/ in your computer's web browser. This website will allow you to convert a few different file types (JPEG included) into a Word document.
    • You can also use other online services if you don't want to use OnlineOCR. Try Small PDF or a similar PDF converter.
  2. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 2
    2
    Click Select file…. It's in the lower-left side of the webpage. Doing so opens a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window in which you can select your JPEG file.
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  3. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 3
    3
    Select your JPEG file. Go to the folder in which your JPEG is stored, then click once the JPEG file you want to convert.
  4. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 4
    4
    Click Open. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so uploads the JPEG file to the OnlineOCR website.
    • On a Mac, you may click Choose here.
  5. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 5
    5
    Select a language. If you want to use a language other than the one listed in the middle text box, click the current language and then click the language you want to use.
  6. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 6
    6
    Make sure you're converting to a Word document. If the third text box doesn't have "Microsoft Word (docx)" written in it, click the text box and then click Microsoft Word (docx) in the drop-down menu.
  7. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 7
    7
    Click CONVERT. It's on the far-right side of the page. Doing so prompts OnlineOCR to begin converting your JPEG file into a Word document.
  8. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 8
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    Click Download Output File. This link is below the Select file... button. Your converted Word document will download onto your computer.
    • Depending on your browser's settings, you may need to select a save location or confirm the download before the file will download.
  9. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 9
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    Open your new Word document. Double-click the converted Word document to do so.
  10. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 10
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    Click Enable Editing. It's in a yellow bar at the top of the Word document. Doing so will make the Word document editable.
    • This is necessary because, since you downloaded the Word document from the Internet, Word views it as potentially dangerous.
    • Remember to save any changes you make by pressing Ctrl+S (Windows) or ⌘ Command+S (Mac).
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using a PDF on Windows

  1. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 11
    1
    Open the JPEG file you want to convert. Double-click the JPEG file to do so. This will open the JPEG file in the Photos app.
  2. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 12
    2
    Click the "Print"
    Android 7 Print
    icon.     It's the printer-shaped icon in the top-right corner of the window. Doing so opens the Print window.
    • Don't panic if you don't have a printer attached to your computer—you won't actually be printing anything.
  3. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 13
    3
    Click the "Printer" drop-down box. This is at the top of the Print window. A drop-down menu will appear.
  4. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 14
    4
    Click Microsoft Print to PDF. It's in the drop-down menu.
  5. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 15
    5
    Click Print. This is at the bottom of the window. A pop-up window will appear.
  6. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 16
    6
    Enter a name. In the "Name" text field, type in the name you want to use for your converted document.
  7. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 17
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    Select a save location. Click a folder name (e.g., Desktop) on the left side of the window.
  8. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 18
    8
    Click Save. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so saves a PDF version of your JPEG file in your selected folder.
  9. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 19
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    Go to the PDF's location. You'll find it in the folder you selected before saving the PDF.
  10. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 20
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    Right-click the PDF. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu.
  11. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 21
    11
    Select Open with. This is in the drop-down menu. A pop-out menu will appear.
    • If you don't see Open with in the drop-down menu, click anywhere to close the drop-down menu, then click once the PDF to select it before you right-click it again.
  12. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 22
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    Click Word. It's in the pop-out menu. Microsoft Word will open.
  13. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 23
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    Click OK when prompted. Word will begin attempting to convert the PDF into a Word document.
    • This may take a few minutes.
  14. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 24
    14
    Review your Word document. The PDF-to-Word conversion process isn't perfect, so you may need to clean up some of the text or remove images that aren't properly positioned.[1]
    • If your document isn't entirely editable or a large group of the document's text is inaccurate, you might want to use Online OCR instead.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using a PDF on Mac

  1. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 25
    1
    Select your JPEG file. Go to the folder location of the JPEG file that you want to convert, then click once the file to select it.
  2. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 26
    2
    Click File. It's a menu item at the top of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
  3. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 27
    3
    Select Open With. This is in the File drop-down menu. Selecting it prompts a pop-out menu to appear.
  4. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 28
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    Click Preview. It's in the pop-out menu. Doing so opens the JPEG file in Preview.
  5. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 29
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    Click File again. The drop-down menu will reappear.
  6. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 30
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    Click Export as PDF…. This is in the drop-down menu. Clicking it prompts a new window to appear.[2]
  7. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 31
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    Select a save location. Click the "Where" drop-down box, then click the name of the folder in which you want to save your converted PDF.
  8. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 32
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    Click Save. It's at the bottom of the window.
  9. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 33
    9
    Select your new PDF. Go to the folder in which you saved the PDF version of your JPEG file, then click the PDF to select it.
  10. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 34
    10
    Click File, then select Open With. The Open With pop-out menu will open.
  11. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 35
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    Click Microsoft Word. This should be in the pop-out menu. Doing so will open Microsoft Word.
    • If you don't see Word here, you can still open the PDF by opening Word, clicking File, clicking Open, and selecting the PDF in the Finder window that appears.
  12. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 36
    12
    Click OK when prompted. Word will begin attempting to convert the PDF into a Word document.
    • This may take a few minutes.
  13. Image titled Convert a JPEG Image Into an Editable Word Document Step 37
    13
    Review your Word document. The PDF-to-Word conversion process isn't perfect, so you may need to clean up some of the text or remove images that aren't properly positioned.[3]
    • If your document isn't entirely editable or a large group of the document's text is inaccurate, you might want to use Online OCR instead.
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Warnings

  • OCR technology isn't perfect, so you may need to make some adjustments to your Word document before it resembles accurately the JPEG file's contents.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References

  1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/edit-a-pdf-b2d1d729-6b79-499a-bcdb-233379c2f63a#:~:text=Go%20to%20File%20%3E%20Open.,format%20that%20Word%20can%20display.
  2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/save-a-document-as-a-pdf-on-mac-mchlp1531/mac
  3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/edit-a-pdf-b2d1d729-6b79-499a-bcdb-233379c2f63a#:~:text=Go%20to%20File%20%3E%20Open.,format%20that%20Word%20can%20display.

About This Article

Darlene Antonelli, MA
Written by:
Darlene Antonelli, MA
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been viewed 527,712 times.
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Co-authors: 21
Updated: December 6, 2022
Views: 527,712
Categories: Microsoft Word
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