How Can I Convert a TIF File to an MS Word Document?

Fax machines often store images as .tif files.

Files with a .tif extension are tagged image files. The TIF format is commonly used to store image files created by scanning applications in fax machines, scanners and optical character recognition readers. TIF is also a popular image file format for graphic illustrators. Convert a .tif file into a Microsoft Word document in a few steps.

Instructions

1. Open a new blank Word document.

2. Click "Insert" near the top of the screen to open a menu of options. Click "Picture" to open your "Pictures" directory.

3. Double-click the .tif file name in the directory to open it in the blank Word document. Navigate to the correct directory if the file is not listed in the "Pictures" directory that opens by default.

4. Press "Ctrl" + "S" to save the file. The original .tif file is now converted to a Word document.

Tips & Warnings

• A .tif file is an image, and text stored in the file will appear as an image rather than text in your Word document. Consequently, you will not be able to edit the text. You can use optical character recognition software to extract text from the Word image.

References

• Microsoft Office: Insert a Picture or Clip Art

Resources

• University of Texas: How to Create OCR Documents