OCR PDF — Extract Text from Scanned PDF
OCR a scanned PDF in your browser — reads text from scanned pages with Tesseract.js, or uses the text layer when one exists. Free, no upload. — free, fast and private.
How to use OCR PDF — Extract Text from Scanned PDF
- Choose a PDF file — scanned or digital.
- Pick how many pages to process.
- Click Extract Text (OCR). Pages with a text layer are read instantly; scanned pages are OCRed.
- Copy the text or download it as a .txt file.
Honest limit: Scanned pages are OCRed with Tesseract.js in your browser — the English language pack downloads on first use and OCR is slow on large pages, so long documents take a while. Accuracy depends on clear, straight, high-contrast text; handwriting is unreliable. Always proofread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OCR PDF free?
Yes, it is 100% free with no sign-up. Your PDF never leaves your browser.
How does it handle normal (digital) PDFs?
Pages with a text layer are read directly and instantly — OCR is only used for scanned pages with no text.
Why is it slow on scanned PDFs?
OCR reads every letter of each page image, and the English language pack downloads on first use. Large or low-contrast pages take longest.
How accurate is the OCR?
Good on clear, straight, high-contrast print. Handwriting, fancy fonts, blurry scans and skewed pages give poor results — always proofread.