OCR PDF
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Extract text from scanned PDFs on your device.
- On your device
- No signup
- Stays on your device
Private on your device
Your information stays on your device and is not uploaded.
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Make PDF searchable online when you need to find words in scanned documents. OCR adds a hidden text layer so you can search, copy, and index content in any PDF viewer.
Searchable PDFs help document management systems index content for later retrieval.
Higher scan DPI improves OCR accuracy—300 DPI is a good target for text documents.
How to use this tool
Upload your scanned PDF, run OCR, then download the searchable PDF and test search in your viewer.
Worked example
Example: make a phone photo scan of a receipt searchable so you can copy line items in Preview or Adobe Reader.
When to use this
- Archiving scanned contracts for keyword search.
- Preparing PDFs for full-text search in DMS tools.
- Making faxed letters searchable before storage.
Common examples
- Phone photo scan of a receipt → searchable PDF where you can copy line items in Preview.
- Old faxed letter PDF → text layer added so keyword search works in document management systems.
- Multi-page handwritten notes scan → OCR quality depends on scan DPI; proofread before archiving.
- Five-page typed scan at 300 DPI → searchable PDF for keyword find in Preview.
- Historical newspaper clip scan → expect errors on faded serif fonts; proofread names.
What people search for
- ocr pdf
- make pdf searchable
- scan to searchable pdf
- pdf text recognition
- ocr pdf online free
Common mistakes
- OCR on very low-resolution phone photos.
- Assuming handwriting OCR will be perfect.
- Skipping proofread on critical numbers and names.
Related long-tail tasks
- make scanned pdf searchable mac
- searchable pdf for evernote
- ocr then convert to word
How it works
Upload a scanned or image-based PDF and extract readable text on your device. Each page is processed locally, recognized, and combined into a downloadable .txt file. Text recognition accuracy depends on scan quality.
Limitations
Text recognition accuracy depends on scan quality, fonts, and language. Review extracted text before relying on it for legal, medical, or financial decisions.
Privacy and file handling
Your data stays on your device and is not uploaded.
Related OCR PDF guides
These pages use the same ocr pdf with guides tailored to specific search intents.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Will the PDF look different?
The visible scan stays the same—a hidden text layer is added underneath for search and copy.
Can I search in any PDF reader?
Most modern viewers support searchable PDFs. Test Ctrl+F after download.
Does OCR work on handwriting?
Handwriting OCR is limited. Printed text works best.
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