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OCR PDF - Extract Text from Scanned PDFs

Use advanced Optical Character Recognition to extract text from scanned PDFs and image-based documents

📌 Tips for Better Results:

  • • Use high-resolution scanned PDFs for better accuracy
  • • Ensure the text in the PDF is clear and readable
  • • OCR works best with standard fonts and layouts
  • • Processing time depends on PDF size and number of pages

Free Online OCR PDF - Convert Scanned PDFs to Editable Text

Transform scanned PDFs and image-based documents into editable, searchable text with our free online OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool. Extract text from scanned documents, photos of documents, or any image-based PDF file instantly without any software installation.

What is OCR PDF?

OCR (Optical Character Recognition) PDF is a technology that analyzes scanned documents or image-based PDFs and converts them into machine-readable, editable text. This allows you to search, edit, and copy text from documents that were originally created as images or scans.

How to Extract Text from Scanned PDF

  1. Upload PDF: Drag and drop your scanned PDF file or click to browse from your device
  2. Start OCR: Click "Extract Text with OCR" to begin the optical character recognition process
  3. Processing: Wait while our advanced OCR engine analyzes and extracts text from your PDF
  4. Review Text: View the extracted text directly in your browser with character count
  5. Download or Copy: Save as TXT file or copy the extracted text to clipboard

Key Features of Our OCR PDF Tool

🔍 Advanced OCR Technology

Uses state-of-the-art Optical Character Recognition to accurately extract text from scanned documents and images.

📄 Multi-Page Support

Process multi-page scanned PDFs and extract text from all pages in a single operation.

💾 Multiple Output Options

Download extracted text as TXT file or copy directly to clipboard for immediate use.

⚡ Fast Processing

Quick OCR processing with real-time progress updates and status messages.

🔒 Secure & Private

All files are processed securely and deleted immediately. No registration or data storage required.

💯 100% Free

Completely free OCR service with no hidden costs, subscriptions, or file size limits.

📱 Cross-Platform

Works on all devices and operating systems - desktop, tablet, and mobile browsers supported.

📊 Character Counter

Automatically counts and displays the number of characters extracted from your PDF.

Common Use Cases for OCR PDF

  • Scanned Documents: Convert paper documents that were scanned to PDF into editable text
  • Old Archives: Digitize and extract text from historical documents and archives
  • Business Cards: Extract contact information from scanned business cards
  • Receipts & Invoices: Pull text data from scanned receipts for accounting and record-keeping
  • Book Pages: Extract text from photographed or scanned book pages for research
  • Forms & Applications: Digitize filled-out paper forms into searchable text
  • Legal Documents: Make scanned legal contracts and agreements searchable
  • Medical Records: Convert scanned medical documents into editable digital format
  • Research Papers: Extract text from scanned academic papers and journals

Why Use Our OCR PDF Tool?

No Software Installation: Completely online tool - no need to download or install OCR software

High Accuracy: Advanced OCR algorithms provide excellent text recognition accuracy

Preserves Formatting: Maintains basic text structure and layout from the original document

Multiple Languages: Supports text extraction in various languages (depends on PDF content)

Instant Results: Get extracted text immediately after processing completes

Easy to Use: Simple drag-and-drop interface requires no technical knowledge

No Registration: Start extracting text immediately without creating an account

Tips for Best OCR Results

  • ✓ High Resolution: Use scanned PDFs with at least 300 DPI for optimal accuracy
  • ✓ Clear Images: Ensure the scanned text is sharp, clear, and well-lit without shadows
  • ✓ Straight Alignment: Keep documents straight and properly aligned when scanning
  • ✓ Good Contrast: Use high contrast between text and background (black text on white works best)
  • ✓ Standard Fonts: OCR works best with common, readable fonts rather than decorative styles
  • ✓ Clean Documents: Remove or minimize stains, marks, and noise from scanned pages
  • ✓ Proper Lighting: When photographing documents, use even lighting without glare or shadows

Supported Document Types

📄 Scanned PDFs

PDFs created from document scanners or scanning apps

📸 Image-based PDFs

PDFs containing embedded images with text content

📑 Photo Documents

PDFs made from photos of documents or book pages

How OCR Technology Works

Our OCR PDF tool uses advanced image processing and machine learning algorithms to:

  1. Analyze the visual patterns in your scanned PDF or image
  2. Identify individual characters and words based on shape recognition
  3. Convert recognized patterns into machine-readable text characters
  4. Assemble characters into words and maintain document structure
  5. Output clean, editable text that matches the original document

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between regular PDFs and scanned PDFs?

Regular PDFs contain actual text data that can be selected and copied. Scanned PDFs are essentially images of documents - the text appears visual but isn't machine-readable. OCR converts these images into actual text.

How accurate is the OCR text extraction?

OCR accuracy depends on scan quality. High-quality scans (300+ DPI) with clear, standard fonts typically achieve 95%+ accuracy. Lower quality scans or unusual fonts may have reduced accuracy.

Can I extract text from handwritten documents?

Our OCR tool is optimized for printed text. While it may recognize some clear handwriting, accuracy for handwritten documents is typically lower than printed text.

What languages are supported?

The OCR engine supports multiple languages including English and other major languages. Recognition accuracy is best for Latin-based alphabets.

Is there a file size limit?

While we can process large files, very large multi-page PDFs may take longer to process. For best performance, we recommend files under 50MB.

Will my extracted text be saved or stored?

No. All processing happens securely, and both your uploaded PDF and extracted text are automatically deleted after you close the page. We don't store any user data.

Can I edit the extracted text before downloading?

Currently, the tool displays extracted text in a read-only format. You can copy it to your clipboard and paste into any text editor for further editing.

Advantages of Using OCR PDF

  • Makes scanned documents searchable and indexable
  • Enables editing and reusing content from old documents
  • Reduces manual data entry work and typing errors
  • Improves document accessibility for screen readers
  • Facilitates digital archiving and document management
  • Allows automatic translation of scanned foreign language documents
  • Enables text analysis and data extraction from scanned forms
  • Supports compliance and legal requirements for digital records

🚀 Start Extracting Text Now

Upload your scanned PDF and transform it into editable, searchable text in seconds. Our free OCR tool makes it easy to digitize your documents without any software installation or registration.