Summary

You can convert SharePoint files in the library, through Microsoft 365, or on your computer. Choose the approach that fits your format and how often you need it:

File Converter: Convert supported files without leaving the library.
Office export: Save an Office document in another format, such as PDF.
Power Automate: Run a conversion automatically when files arrive.
OneDrive sync: Use a desktop converter and sync the output back.
Download, convert, upload: Handle an occasional file with a tool you already use.

You need access to the source file and permission to add the converted file to the destination library. Renaming a file extension does not convert its contents.

1. Convert directly in the SharePoint library

Our File Converter for SharePoint handles images, spreadsheets, documents, video, and audio. Examples include HEIC to JPG, CSV to XLSX, and MP4 to MP3. File content converts in your browser, without uploading it to a conversion service.

An administrator must install the add-in first. The screenshots below show the settings for converting a TIFF image to JPG in its current folder.

Select your file

Select the file using its row checkbox.
Right-click the file name to open its context menu.

SharePoint library with numbered callouts: 1 select sample-1.tiff, 2 right-click its file name

Open File Converter

Choose File Converter. Scroll down inside the context menu if the command is below the visible items.

SharePoint context menu with File Converter highlighted near the bottom

Choose the format and destination

Under Convert to, select JPEG (.jpg).
Leave Destination set to Save to current folder.
Click Convert.

Convert File dialog with numbered callouts: 1 JPEG format, 2 current folder destination, 3 Convert

After the success message, open the new JPG to check the result. Refresh the library if the file has not appeared.

You can also select up to 20 files of the same source format for a batch. The dialog offers another SharePoint folder or your computer as alternative destinations.

See the full list of supported conversions. PDF conversion is not currently included; use Office export or a suitable Power Automate connector for PDF output.

2. Export from Word, Excel, or PowerPoint

For an Office file, start with the app's own Export or Save As options. Microsoft documents PDF export in Office; available formats vary by app.

For example, to turn a Word document into a PDF:

Open the document from SharePoint in Word for the web.
Select File → Export → Download as PDF, then Download.
Upload the downloaded PDF to the SharePoint folder where you want to share it.

This uses Word's built-in PDF export. No separate converter is needed, but the web export downloads a copy rather than saving the PDF into the library.

3. Automate recurring conversions

Use Power Automate when the same conversion repeats, such as producing a PDF whenever a Word document arrives. One possible flow is:

Trigger when a DOCX file arrives in a SharePoint input folder.
Run Word Online (Business) → Convert Word Document to PDF.
Use SharePoint's Create file action to save the returned PDF in a separate output folder.

The Word Online (Business) connector can read SharePoint libraries and is Premium in Power Automate. Check licensing and document restrictions before building the flow.

Another option is the standard OneDrive for Business connector's Convert file action. That action expects a file in the connected OneDrive, not a SharePoint path. A flow using it needs to copy the source into OneDrive, convert it, save the result to SharePoint, and clean up the temporary copy. Check Microsoft's supported conversion formats first.

4. Sync the library and convert locally

If you regularly use a desktop converter, OneDrive can handle the transfer back to SharePoint:

Use Add shortcut to OneDrive or Sync in the library, if your organization permits it.
Open the synced folder in File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac. Convert the file with your desktop app.
Save the output in the synced folder and wait for OneDrive to finish syncing before sharing it.

Microsoft recommends OneDrive shortcuts when available. Sync moves files; it does not convert them. You still need a converter that supports your source and target formats.

5. Download, convert, and upload

For an occasional conversion, the manual approach needs no sync setup or automation:

Select the source in SharePoint and click Download.
Convert it with a desktop app or an approved web service.
Return to the destination library and upload the converted file.

Microsoft's guides cover downloading and uploading. This is flexible, but every conversion adds a round trip. Before uploading work files to a web converter, check where the service processes and retains them.

Need help?

If you have questions or need help with your conversion workflows, message support and we'll get back to you shortly.

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