OCR PDF

Make a scanned PDF searchable. OCR reads the text on each page and adds it as an invisible layer, so the PDF looks the same but you can search, select and copy its words. You can also copy the text or save it as a .txt file.

How to use OCR PDF

  1. Choose a scanned PDF.
  2. Pick the language of the text. English is the default.
  3. Click Make searchable and wait while each page is read.
  4. Download the searchable PDF, or copy the text.

Frequently asked questions

What does OCR do?

OCR (optical character recognition) reads the words in a picture of text, such as a scanned page or a photo of a document, and turns them into real text.

Will my PDF look different?

No. The original page images are kept exactly as they are. The text is added as an invisible layer on top, in the right place, which is how searchable PDFs work.

Which languages can it read?

English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Hindi and Arabic. Choose the language of the document for the best accuracy.

How accurate is it?

Clear printed scans at 200 to 300 dpi are usually read almost perfectly. Handwriting, low-resolution photos, skewed pages and unusual fonts give more mistakes, so check names and numbers.

Can I get the text out of a scanned PDF?

Yes. After OCR, copy the text or download it as a .txt file. To get an editable document instead, use PDF to Word, which also reads scans.

Is it free, and is there a watermark?

Yes. It is free to use, with no sign-up and no watermark on your file.

Are my files uploaded?

Your file is processed in your browser and is never uploaded to our servers. The first time you use a language, its OCR model (1 to 4 MB) is downloaded and kept by your browser.

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