Turn a Scanned PDF Into Searchable Text
Make a scanned PDF searchable and selectable with OCR — right in your browser. Your file never leaves your device, and there are no watermarks or sign-ups.
Drop PDF here or click to browse
PDF files only
Your file never leaves your device
Nothing to delete later
Secure connection
Works in every modern browser
How it works
- 1
Add your scanned PDF
Drop the PDF onto the page or click to browse and select it.
- 2
Run OCR
Press Recognise — the text in each page image is read and added as a text layer.
- 3
Download
Download a searchable PDF whose text you can select, copy, and find.
Why use this tool
Search a scan
Turn a picture of text into real, searchable words you can find and copy.
Private by design
Text recognition runs locally in your browser — your document is never uploaded.
Copy and reuse text
Select and paste text out of what used to be a flat image.
No watermark
The recognised PDF is clean, with nothing stamped onto it.
Free & unlimited
No account, no trial, no per-file charges — OCR as many PDFs as you need.
Works on any device
Phone, tablet, or computer — it runs in the browser you already have.
What does OCR on a PDF do?
When you scan a document or photograph a page, the result looks like text but is really just an image — you cannot search it, select it, or copy from it. OCR (optical character recognition) reads the shapes in that image and works out the actual letters and words, then adds them to the PDF as an invisible text layer beneath the picture. The page looks identical, but now you can search it, highlight it, and copy from it. Because this tool runs entirely in your browser, the recognition happens on your own device and the file is never uploaded.
When should you OCR a PDF?
Run OCR whenever you have a scanned or photographed document you want to actually use, not just look at. Students make a scanned textbook or handout searchable so they can find a topic instantly. Offices turn scanned invoices and letters into searchable archives. Anyone who wants to copy a paragraph out of a scanned page, or convert it to Word or Excel afterwards, needs OCR first — because those conversions need real text to work with, and a plain scan has none.
How to get the best results
OCR accuracy depends on the quality of the scan. Straight, high-contrast pages with clear, printed text give the best results; faint, skewed, or low-resolution scans are harder to read. Scan or photograph in good light, keep the page flat and square, and use a reasonable resolution. If a page is rotated, straighten it first so the lines are horizontal. After running OCR, spot-check a few searches to confirm the text came through before relying on it for anything important.
Limitations to be aware of
OCR is very good but not perfect: unusual fonts, handwriting, poor scans, and complex layouts can produce mistakes, so treat the recognised text as highly useful rather than flawless. It works best on clear printed text. Very stylised or decorative type may be misread. The tool adds a searchable layer without changing how the page looks, so any errors are in the hidden text, not the visible scan. For critical figures, always verify against the original image.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common mistake is running OCR on a low-quality scan and being disappointed by the accuracy — rescan in good light and higher resolution first. Another is skipping straightening: a tilted page confuses recognition, so rotate it upright beforehand. People also sometimes expect OCR to handle handwriting reliably, which it does not. Finally, after OCR, do a quick search to confirm the text is there before you convert the file to Word or Excel, since those steps depend on it.
Using it on mobile and desktop
On a phone, photograph a page, run OCR, and get a searchable PDF you can copy from — all locally, with nothing uploaded. On a computer, make a batch of scanned documents searchable so your archive becomes findable. Because there is no app to install, the same link works on every device, and the recognised PDF opens as a normal, searchable document everywhere.
Why OCR here instead of another site?
The scanned documents people most want to make searchable — statements, records, letters — are often private, yet most online OCR tools require you to upload them to a server. This tool never uploads your file; the text recognition runs inside your browser, so a sensitive scan stays on your device. There are no watermarks, no account, and no limit on how many files you process. For private documents, keeping OCR local is simply the safer choice.
How it compares
| Feature | This tool | Typical online PDF tools |
|---|---|---|
| File uploaded to a server | Never — recognised in your browser | Usually uploaded |
| Adds a searchable text layer | Yes | Yes |
| Keeps the original appearance | Yes | Usually |
| Watermark on output | No | Sometimes |
| Account or sign-up | Not required | Often required |
| Price | Free | Free / paid tiers |
Features
Adds a searchable text layer
The page still looks the same, but the text underneath is now real.
Select and copy text
Pull quotes or numbers out of a former image.
Find within the document
Use Ctrl+F to jump to any word in a once-unsearchable scan.
Keeps the original look
The scanned appearance is preserved; only searchability is added.
Runs in your browser
Recognition happens on your device — the file is never uploaded.
No installation
Nothing to download or install — it works on the web page.
Arabic & RTL friendly
Full interface in eight languages, including right-to-left Arabic.
Secure by default
Served over HTTPS, with no file tracking and no third-party upload.
Who uses it
Students
Make a scanned textbook or handout searchable to find a topic instantly.
Offices & admin
Turn scanned invoices and letters into a searchable, findable archive.
Researchers
Copy quotes out of a scanned paper instead of retyping them.
Everyday users
Make a photographed document searchable so its text can be reused — privately.
Frequently Asked Questions
It reads the text in a scanned or image PDF and adds it as an invisible layer over the page, so you can select, copy and search the text while the page still looks the same.
Arabic and English, individually or together. Language data downloads once on first use and is then cached for next time.
No. Recognition runs entirely in your browser and your PDF never leaves your device — only the OCR engine and language data load from our own site.
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