OCR PDF
Make scanned PDFs searchable with in-browser text recognition.
or drop a file here
Max file size: 10 MB
Processed in your browser. Your files are not uploaded.
How to use OCR PDF
- Step 1
Select a scanned PDF
Choose a PDF made from scans or photos.
- Step 2
Pick the language
Choose the document's language for the best recognition.
- Step 3
Download
Get the same PDF with an invisible, searchable and copyable text layer.
Frequently asked questions
Does OCR change how the PDF looks?
No. The recognized text is added as an invisible layer on top of each page, so the pages look exactly the same.
How long does it take?
Usually a few seconds per page. The first run also downloads the recognition engine and language data (a few MB); they're cached afterwards.
Is anything sent to a server?
No. Recognition runs in your browser. Only the engine and language files are downloaded; your document stays on your device.
Is there a file size limit for free users?
Free accounts and guests can process files up to 10 MB. Pro and Team raise the limit to 100 MB per file.
Do I need to create an account or install software?
There's nothing to install: the tool runs in your web browser. You can drop a file and process it right away without an account. To download the result, sign in or create a free account (3 free downloads a month), or go Pro for unlimited downloads.
Is it free?
Yes. With a free account you can download up to 3 files a month from any tool, or upgrade to Pro for unlimited use.