PDF OCR — Extract Text from a Scanned PDF (Free, In-Browser)
Extract text from scanned PDFs and images. Create searchable PDFs with invisible text layers, or download plain text—all in your browser, no uploads.
PDF OCR — Extract Text from a PDF
Turn a scanned or image-only PDF into selectable, copyable text — every page, in your browser.
Your file never leaves your device
The OCR runs entirely in your browser — your image or PDF is never uploaded. The only thing fetched online is a one-time language-model file, which the browser caches after the first run.
Drop a PDF (or image) here, or click to choose
PNG · JPG · WebP · PDF — read entirely in your browser
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Many scanned PDFs already contain a text layer
A PDF labeled "scanned" or "image-only" might still have an invisible text layer from a previous pass through OCR. Before running the tool, try selecting text in the PDF with your cursor — if it works, the text is already there and you do not need OCR at all. Running it anyway is not harmful, but it costs time and bandwidth for no gain.
The first run downloads the language model and caches it
Tesseract.js, the OCR engine, fetches the selected language model from the tessdata CDN on first use — a one-time download that the browser caches locally. Subsequent runs are instant. English is the default; other languages are available from the same CDN. Your file never uploads — only the model file crosses the network.
Accuracy breaks down on poor scans and handwriting
OCR works best on clean, high-resolution scans at roughly textbook quality. Low-DPI photos, faded documents, multi-column layouts and any handwritten text will all degrade accuracy, sometimes badly. Handwriting in particular is not supported — Tesseract is trained on printed type. The tool renders PDF pages at 2.5× scale (≈180 DPI) as a balance between speed and recognition. After extraction you can correct mistakes in the text box before saving.
Extract plain text or build a searchable PDF
Two output modes are available. Extracted text saves the recognised words as a plain .txt file. Searchable PDF rebuilds the original document visually identical but with an invisible text layer underneath, so you can select, copy and search it like any normal PDF. An optional scan-cleanup step (deskew and contrast boost) helps with phone photos and faded scans. To convert the recovered text onward, see the PDF to Markdown Converter.
How to use the PDF OCR — Scanned PDF to Text
Takes about a minute. No signup, no download, your data stays in your browser.
- 1Open the tool. Scroll up to the PDF OCR — Scanned PDF to Text above — it loads instantly in your browser, no install needed.
- 2Enter your values. The fields come pre-filled with realistic defaults so you can see how it works — replace them with your own numbers.
- 3Read the result. The output updates instantly. Copy or share it — nothing is uploaded to a server, everything stays on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about the PDF OCR — Scanned PDF to Text.
Why is the first run slow?
The first run downloads the Tesseract language model from the tessdata CDN. The browser caches it locally, so subsequent runs are instant. You only pay this cost once per device per language, and your document itself is never uploaded — only the model is fetched.
Does it read handwriting?
No. Tesseract is trained on printed and typed text, not cursive or handwriting. Handwritten documents produce garbled results. The tool works best on clean, machine-printed text at book or document quality. If your scan is mostly handwritten, OCR is not the right approach.
What if my PDF already has selectable text?
Try selecting some text in the PDF first. If it works, the PDF already has a text layer and does not need OCR. Running OCR anyway still works — it just creates a new layer on top — but it is unnecessary and wastes time and bandwidth.
What is the difference between extracted text and searchable PDF?
Extracted text saves just the recognised words as a plain .txt file, which is best for copying into another document. Searchable PDF rebuilds the original visually identical but adds an invisible text layer underneath, letting you select, copy and search the pages while keeping the layout and images.
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