OCR PDF
Turn a scanned PDF into a searchable PDF with text you can select and copy.
Make a scanned PDF searchable
Drag and drop a PDF here, or choose a file from your device.
Processing happens in your browser. Your PDF is not uploaded.Upload a PDF to begin.
How to OCR a PDF
- Choose your scanned PDF.
- Select the language the document is written in.
- Click Recognise text and wait while each page is read.
- Download the searchable PDF, or just the text.
What you get
The result looks the same as your scan, with an invisible layer of text behind each page. That lets you search the document, select and copy text, and use it with screen readers. You can also download the recognised text on its own as a .txt file.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is it?
Clean, straight scans of printed text are read very well. Handwriting, low-resolution scans, skewed pages and unusual fonts produce more mistakes. Always check important names, numbers and dates.
How long does it take?
A few seconds per page on a modern computer, longer on a phone. The first run also downloads the language data once.
Why is the result larger than my original?
Each page is stored as a picture with the text layer added, which can be bigger than the original file. Run the result through Compress PDF if size matters.
Can it read more than one language at once?
Choose the main language of the document. Words in other languages that use the same alphabet are usually still recognised.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Your PDF is processed in your browser and never leaves your device.