OCR a Scanned PDF — Extract Text Free
Turn a scanned, image-only PDF into selectable, searchable text in your browser. No uploads, no sign-up.
A scanned PDF is just pictures of text — you can't select or search it. OCR reads those pictures and turns them into real text, so your document becomes selectable, searchable, and editable. And it all happens in your browser.
Who uses the OCR tool
- Searching a scanned contract or receipt for a specific number or clause.
- Copying text out of a photographed old book or page.
- Preparing a scanned document so you can edit it with the "Edit text" tool.
Run OCR in 3 steps
- 1. Open the tool and upload your scanned PDF.
- 2. Start text recognition and let the pages finish.
- 3. Select, search, or edit the text as usual.
Frequently asked questions
Which languages are supported?
Recognition works well on Latin-script text; accuracy depends on how clean the scan is and the quality of the original image.
Why does it take a moment?
Recognition runs entirely on your device, page by page, so longer documents take longer — but nothing is uploaded.
Will the text be perfect?
OCR is very accurate but not flawless; double-check important numbers and names afterward.
Are my scans uploaded to a server?
No — recognition happens in your browser; your document's images never leave your device.
Read the full step-by-step guide