PDF to OCR
Convert a scanned PDF to OCR text and a searchable PDF - selectable words with an invisible text layer.
Drop your scanned PDF here or click to upload
PDF only · max 15 MB · max 15 pages · runs on your device
Best for scanned or image-only PDFs. If you can already select text, use PDF to Text instead. For photos (not PDF), use OCR to PDF.
This free PDF to OCR converter reads scanned or image-only PDFs with on-device optical character recognition. You get extracted plain text and a searchable PDF with an invisible text layer so Find and copy work in any reader. If you can already select text in the original, use PDF to Text instead - OCR is for pages that are pictures of text. Files up to 15 MB and 15 pages are supported. Nothing is uploaded.
How to use this tool
- Add a scanned PDF (max 15 MB, 15 pages)Drop the file in or browse. Image-only or scanned pages convert best.
- Convert to OCRPages are rendered, then recognised with Tesseract entirely in your browser.
- Download resultsGet a .txt of all pages, and optionally a searchable PDF with the OCR layer.
- ProofreadCheck figures, names and unusual words against the scan.
Why use it
- Extracts text from scanned PDFs that have no text layer.
- Rebuilds a searchable PDF so Find works in Acrobat, Preview and Chrome.
- Runs on your device - private for contracts and IDs.
- Same OCR engine as OCR Image to Text for consistent quality.
- Validates PDF type, size and page count before processing.
- Free, no account and no watermark.
- Up to 15 MB and 15 pages.
Common uses
- Making an old scanned contract searchable.
- Copying text out of a camera-scanned PDF.
- Preparing archives so documents can be found by keyword.
- Turning fax-style PDF dumps into usable text.
- Converting a scan pack into both .txt and a searchable PDF.
Tips for better results
- If text is already selectable, skip OCR and use PDF to Text.
- Split PDFs over 15 pages first for reliable runs.
- Higher-quality scans OCR better - re-scan if the file is tiny or muddy.
- Unlock password-protected PDFs before converting.
- For loose photos instead of a PDF, use OCR to PDF.
Mistakes to avoid
- Running OCR on a digital PDF that already has a text layer.
- Expecting perfect handwriting recognition.
- Sending a password-protected PDF without unlocking it first.
- Trying a 200-page scan in one go - split it.
- Uploading a renamed non-PDF file - the tool rejects invalid files.
Frequently asked questions
Add a scanned PDF up to 15 MB (max 15 pages) and convert. Download the extracted text and, if you choose, a searchable PDF.
Yes. No account, trial limit or watermark.
No. Rendering and OCR run entirely in your browser.
PDF to Text copies an existing text layer. PDF to OCR recognises characters from page images when there is no text layer.
Yes if you choose OCR + searchable PDF. The download keeps the page look and adds an invisible text layer.
15 MB and 15 pages. Use Split PDF for larger files.
For loose images, use OCR to PDF or OCR Image to Text. This tool is for PDF input.
Clean printed scans are typically very accurate. Skewed, dark or low-resolution pages need proofreading, especially for numbers.
The tool checks the file type and structure first and warns you if the file may disturb the data, instead of producing a broken result.
Yes - same tool. The page is named PDF to OCR to match PDF to Word / Excel / PowerPoint.
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