Insert a PDF into Google Docs
Google Docs doesn’t have anything like Word’s Insert → Object, so there is no way to embed a live PDF file inside a Doc. The reliable workaround is the same one Word users reach for on mobile and web: turn each PDF page into an image, then drop the images in. This tool does the conversion for you, entirely in your browser.
Your file is processed entirely in your browser. It is never uploaded to any server.
How to insert a PDF into Google Docs: step by step
- Choose your PDF above. Enter specific pages if you only need part of it, or leave it blank for all pages.
- Click Convert to PNG and save the image (or unzip the download if you exported multiple pages).
- In Google Docs, place your cursor, then go to Insert → Image → Upload from computer.
- Select the PNG(s). Click the image and choose a text-wrap option (In line or Break text) so it doesn’t overlap your content.
- Repeat for each page, in order, for multi-page PDFs.
Why Docs can't just "insert" a PDF like Word can
Word's Object embedding relies on Windows' OLE technology to hold another file type inside a .docx; Google Docs is a browser-based app with no equivalent container format, so it was never built to nest a PDF inside a Doc. Google Drive can show a PDF preview link, but that's a link to a separate file, not content living inside your document. Converting pages to images sidesteps the limitation entirely and, unlike a link, keeps the content visible even if the original PDF is later moved or deleted from Drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I embed a live PDF file directly in Google Docs?
No. Google Docs has no object-embedding feature for PDFs. Inserting page images is the standard workaround, and it's what this tool is built for.
Will the text in the PDF stay searchable after I insert it as an image?
No, an image isn't selectable text. If you need to search or edit the wording, use the PDF to Word converter instead and open the result in Docs via File → Open.
Does this work if I'm using Google Docs on my phone?
Yes. Convert the PDF here in your phone's browser, then use Insert → Image in the Docs mobile app the same way as on desktop.
What about Google Slides instead of Docs?
Same approach works: convert pages to images here, then Insert → Image in Slides, useful when a PDF page needs to become its own slide.