Upload a scanned PDF
Use this page for image-only PDFs where text cannot be selected. If the PDF already has selectable text, copying directly from the PDF may be faster.
Scanned PDF OCR
PDF OCR - Scanned PDF to Text
Render scanned PDF pages, run OCR locally, and turn page images into searchable, editable text exports.
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PDF OCR
Choose files to begin OCR.
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Selected files and page previews will appear here.
Extracted text
How to Use This Tool
This OCR workspace is built for real files, not just a single demo image. Use these controls to improve recognition, manage batches, and export the text in the format you need.
Select only the pages you need
Enter ranges like 1-3, 7, 10-12. For large PDFs, start with a short range so the browser does not spend time rendering pages you do not need.
Pick a render scale
Use 2x for most scanned documents. Try 3x for small print, but remember that sharper rendering uses more memory and takes longer.
Choose OCR language and cleanup
Choose the language that appears in the document, then use Smart cleanup for paragraphs or Trim lines for forms, lists, invoices, and tables.
Run OCR and monitor the queue
Each PDF page is rendered as an image and then read by OCR. You can pause or cancel long jobs while keeping pages that already finished.
Export text, not a perfect scan clone
V1 exports extracted text as TXT, PDF, DOCX, CSV, JSON, or ZIP. It does not create an invisible searchable layer over the original scanned PDF.
Best PDFs for OCR Accuracy
PDF OCR accuracy depends on the page image hidden inside the PDF. A clean scan at a readable resolution is much easier to recognize than a tilted phone scan saved as a PDF.
Works best
Scanned forms, printed documents, worksheets, invoices, receipts, and image-only PDFs with straight pages and readable text.
Needs review
Low-resolution scans, sideways pages, handwriting, stamps, multi-column tables, faded copies, and pages photographed in poor lighting.
Confidence meaning
High confidence means the rendered page was readable. Low confidence usually means the page image is blurry, skewed, too small, or visually noisy.
What This Tool Does
PDF OCR is for scanned PDFs, image-only PDFs, forms, worksheets, receipts, and documents where text cannot be selected. Pages are rendered locally and then recognized with OCR.
Extract text from scanned PDF pages
Run OCR locally, review the editable text, then copy or export the result in the format that fits your workflow.
Convert image-only PDFs into editable text
Run OCR locally, review the editable text, then copy or export the result in the format that fits your workflow.
Export OCR results as TXT, PDF, DOCX, CSV, JSON, or ZIP
Run OCR locally, review the editable text, then copy or export the result in the format that fits your workflow.
Useful Scanned PDF OCR Workflows
Forms and records
OCR selected pages from scanned forms, applications, archived records, and document packets without uploading the PDF.
Study and research PDFs
Extract text from scanned worksheets or book pages, then export a clean study note as TXT, PDF, or DOCX.
Invoices and receipts
Read totals, vendor names, dates, and line-item text from image-only PDF receipts before saving structured exports.
How to Get Better OCR Results
Use 2x render scale for better recognition on small text.
OCR only the pages you need when the PDF is large.
This creates extracted text exports, not a perfect searchable overlay PDF in v1.
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PDF OCR - Scanned PDF to Text FAQ
Does this make a searchable PDF?
V1 exports extracted text as PDF or DOCX. It does not add an invisible searchable text layer over the original scan.
Are PDF files uploaded?
No. PDF pages are rendered and OCR is processed in your browser.
Can I OCR selected pages only?
Yes. Use ranges such as 1-3, 7, 10-12 before starting OCR.
Why does a scanned PDF take time?
Each selected page is rendered to an image and then recognized by OCR, which is CPU-heavy.