OCR PDF: Make Scans Searchable
Recognise the text in scanned PDFs and get a searchable PDF plus a text file, in your browser.
Your PDF stays on your device. The first run downloads the recognition engine and language data (about 10 to 20 MB), then it is cached.
About this tool
A scanned PDF is only pictures, so you cannot search or copy its text. This tool reads the pages with optical character recognition and creates a searchable PDF with an invisible text layer, plus a plain text file. Recognition runs in your browser, and your document is never uploaded.
How to use it
- Choose a scanned PDF.
- Pick the document's language and the scan quality.
- Click Make searchable, wait for the pages to finish, then download the files.
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Pages are recognised locally. Only the recognition engine and the language data are downloaded, and the document is not sent anywhere.
Why is it slow?
Recognition is heavy work for a browser. Expect several seconds per page, and a larger first download.
How accurate is it?
Clean, straight scans of printed text work best. Handwriting and low-quality photos are recognised poorly.