Select scanned PDF or drop it here
Click the red + button or click anywhere inside the box to upload your PDF.
OCR Configuration
Select recognition language and output format.
Searchable PDF
Embed text layer
Extract Text
Plain text file
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OCR PDF Tool
Recognize printed text in scanned PDF files and make them searchable or extract plain text.
Fast, Free & Secure Online Tool
OCR PDF Free Online – Make PDF Searchable
Our tool makes it simple to run OCR PDF free online, letting you transform scanned PDF documents or image-based files into fully searchable, selectable, and editable PDFs. If you have a scanned paper contract or an e-book where you cannot select or copy any text, our OCR tool scans the pages, recognizes the characters, and adds an invisible, selectable text layer on top. You can also export the scanned text as a plain text (.txt) file.
100% Private & Secure
Files are processed securely and deleted automatically right after conversion.
Zero Signup Required
No credit cards, email registration, or software installation needed. Free forever.
High Accuracy Engine
Retains formatting, layout, tables, fonts, and images with crisp fidelity.
When do you need it?
- •Making scanned paper documents, books, or contracts searchable.
- •Extracting text from locked PDF files or image scans.
- •Enabling the 'Find' (Ctrl+F) command on scanned research documents.
- •Converting scanned archives into searchable digital records.
How to use this tool:
- 1Select and upload the scanned PDF file.
- 2Select your output mode (Searchable PDF or Text-Only .txt).
- 3Click 'Process PDF' to run the character recognition engine.
- 4Download your selectable PDF or plain text file.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the character recognition?
Our OCR engine is highly accurate for printed text. Handwritten text may have varying results depending on legibility.
Does it preserve layout in the searchable PDF?
Yes, the tool places the recognized text layer directly over the original images, keeping the exact layout intact.
What languages are supported?
The OCR engine is optimized for English, supporting standard character sets and structures.
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