More ways to use your scans · Android
Scan to Word on Android
Turn a paper handout, printed letter, or imported PDF into a Word document you can edit. OnlyScans exports recognized text as a .docx file directly on your Android device. Standard Word export is included in the free tier.
From a scan or PDF to an editable document
Capture a document or import a PDF
Scan your pages in document mode, or import an existing PDF into the library. Use even lighting and keep the text in focus. Word export is available for regular documents; the dedicated ID-card workflow offers PDF and image formats.
Review the pages
Check the crop, orientation, and page order. Select the OCR language that matches the document. A clear scan gives text recognition a better starting point.
Choose Word Document in export
Open the document’s export screen and choose Word Document. Use Standard for the free built-in layout reconstruction, or choose Enhanced layout with Pro. Enhanced layout needs a one-time download of about 27 MB before use.
Export, open, and proofread
Tap Export Word and save or share the .docx file. Open it in a Word-compatible editor to correct recognition mistakes and adjust formatting. Check names, numbers, and table cells against the original before sending it.
Standard and Enhanced Word export
Standard · Free
Uses built-in text recognition and layout reconstruction. Recognized text can become editable paragraphs, headings, lists, and tables, with pictures retained where detected. It does not need the optional Enhanced layout model pack.
Enhanced layout · Pro
Adds on-device layout and table models to improve the reconstruction of headings, tables, and pictures. Download the model pack once, then use it on your device. If you skip the download, you can continue with Standard.
Choose an export format for the job
| Format | Use it when | What to expect on Android |
|---|---|---|
| Word (.docx) | You want to rewrite or reuse the text. | Free Standard export; Enhanced layout is Pro. Text and layout may need correction. DOCX export has no password-protection option. |
| The recipient needs a document with fixed pages. | Use a searchable PDF with Pro when you need an OCR text layer. PDF password protection is also a Pro option. | |
| JPEG (.jpg) | You need an image to share or attach. | Image export with adjustable quality. The page remains an image, not editable text. |
| PNG (.png) | You need the scan as a PNG image. | An additional image format on Android. It does not turn the text into editable paragraphs. |
What stays editable, and what needs review?
DOCX reconstruction is best suited to clear printed text. Complex layouts, small type, handwriting, or poor lighting can produce recognition and formatting errors. Enhanced layout can help with structure, but the result still needs review.
Some rotated or composed pages are preserved as full-page pictures to keep their appearance. Their text may not be editable in Word. Keep the source scan if the original page arrangement matters.
For imported PDFs, OnlyScans can reuse an available text layer when the page structure still matches the source. Otherwise, it recognizes the page images. A searchable PDF and an editable Word document serve different purposes.
Document processing stays on your Android device
Text recognition, layout reconstruction, and DOCX creation run locally. Your documents are not uploaded for conversion. Internet access can be needed to install the app, download optional OCR language or layout models, manage purchases, or share a file through a service you choose.
Scan to Word questions
Is scan to Word free?
Standard DOCX export is free in OnlyScans for Android. Enhanced layout is an optional Pro feature. The separate OCR text-extraction and searchable-PDF features remain Pro features.
Can I convert an existing PDF to Word?
Yes. Import the PDF into OnlyScans on Android, open export, and choose Word Document. Recognized or available PDF text can become editable content, but complex layouts and pages preserved as pictures may need extra work.
Does Word export work offline?
Word export runs on your device. Install any needed language models and the optional Enhanced layout pack first. Once the required models are available, conversion does not need a cloud service.
Can I export an ID card as DOCX?
Word is not offered in the dedicated ID-card export workflow. Use PDF, JPEG, or PNG for ID documents. Word export is for regular scanned documents and imported PDFs.
Can I password-protect the Word file during export?
No. The password option applies to PDF export. OnlyScans does not encrypt DOCX exports.
Is this Word-export workflow available on iPhone?
This guide describes the Android app. OnlyScans is also available for iPhone, but the Word, PNG, and Enhanced layout features described here are Android features.