You wrote your work in LaTeX, and now someone asks for it in Word: your supervisor wants to add comments, a journal only accepts .docx, or a colleague doesn't use LaTeX. Copying the text from the PDF into Word isn't an option: the equations break and the formatting is lost.
Here are the ways to convert LaTeX to Word, what each one keeps and what it loses, and the fastest way to get a .docx with your equations intact.
Quick answer
To convert LaTeX to Word, you can use Pandoc from the command line (pandoc document.tex -o document.docx) or a tool like MathWrite: paste your LaTeX code in Tools → Convert, choose Word (.docx) and download the file, with the equations converted into native, editable Word equations. Before sending it, check equations, tables and references, because complex packages and custom macros don't always have an equivalent in Word.
Why converting LaTeX to Word is tricky
LaTeX and Word work in very different ways. LaTeX is code that gets compiled: commands, packages, macros and automatic references. Word is a visual editor with its own equation format. Converting means translating every element from one world to the other.
Plain text and headings convert without problems. The delicate parts are usually equations, tables with merged cells, cross-references (\ref, \cite), custom macros and packages such as TikZ, which have no direct equivalent in Word.
Methods compared
| Method | Equations | Effort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copying from the PDF | Lost or broken | Easy | Short text without formulas |
| Pandoc (command line) | Native Word equations | Install it and use the terminal | Technical users who convert often |
| Retyping equations in Word | One by one, by hand | Slow | Documents with very few equations |
| MathWrite (Convert tool) | Native Word equations | One click, in the browser | Getting a .docx fast without installing anything |
Option 1: Pandoc
Pandoc is a free, open-source document converter. Once installed, a single command converts your file:
pandoc document.tex -o document.docx
# with citations and bibliography
pandoc document.tex --citeproc --bibliography=references.bib -o document.docxIt handles text, headings, lists and most equations, which it turns into native Word equations. Its weak points are complex macros, TikZ figures and some table layouts, which you'll have to fix by hand afterwards.
Option 2: retype the equations in Word
Word for Microsoft 365 lets you type equations in LaTeX syntax: insert an equation (Alt + =), choose the LaTeX format in the Conversions group, paste the code and convert it. It works well for a handful of formulas, but it's one equation at a time, and you'll have to rebuild the rest of the document (text, sections, tables) yourself.
Option 3: convert LaTeX to Word with MathWrite
- 1
Open the Convert tool
In MathWrite, go to Tools → Convert.
- 2
Bring your LaTeX code
Paste the code of your document, or pick any of your previous conversions from My LaTeX Generations.
- 3
Choose Word (.docx)
You can also export to OpenDocument (.odt), HTML or Markdown.
- 4
Download the file
In a few seconds the .docx is ready, with the text, sections, tables and equations converted into native Word equations that you can edit.
- 5
Do a final check
Open it in Word and review equations, tables and references before sending it.
If your document only exists as a PDF, convert the PDF to LaTeX first and then export it to Word.
Get your .docx in one click.
Convert LaTeX to WordTips so nothing breaks
- Make sure your document compiles without errors before converting: if it doesn't compile in LaTeX, the conversion will have problems too.
- Replace custom macros (
\newcommand) with standard commands in the parts that matter most. - Export TikZ figures and plots as images (PNG or PDF) and include them with
\includegraphics. - Simplify tables with merged cells (
\multirow,\multicolumn) if Word displays them incorrectly. - Check the numbering of equations, figures and cross-references at the end.
- Keep the .tex file as your master version: it's easier to make changes in LaTeX and export again than to maintain two documents.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert an Overleaf project to Word?
Download the source code of the project from Overleaf and convert the main .tex file with Pandoc, or paste its code into MathWrite's Convert tool and download the .docx.
Can I edit the equations in Word afterwards?
Yes. Both Pandoc and MathWrite convert LaTeX equations into native Word equations, not images, so you can edit them with Word's equation editor.
Can I convert LaTeX to Word for free?
Pandoc is free and open source. In MathWrite, each conversion uses 1 credit, and when you sign up you get free credits to try it.
What happens to the bibliography?
With Pandoc, use --citeproc together with your .bib file to generate the citations and the reference list. With any method, check that every reference appears and is numbered correctly.
Can I convert LaTeX to Google Docs?
Yes: convert it to .docx and upload the file to Google Drive, where Google Docs can open it. Check the equations, because Google Docs displays some formulas differently from Word.
And the other way round, from Word to LaTeX?
Save the Word document as a PDF and convert it with MathWrite's Professional model to get the LaTeX code.
Convert your LaTeX to Word in seconds
Create your account, paste your LaTeX code and download a .docx with editable equations, without installing anything.
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