OCR PDF Online
The words in your scan, ready to find and copy.
No uploads · No sign-up · FreeSpanish and Portuguese OCR example
This fictional three-page scan was recognized with Spanish and Portuguese selected. The result contains pages 1 and 3, processed one page per batch.
Original scan · Searchable PDF · Recognized textSearch and copy text from your scanned PDF
Recognize printed text, then download a searchable PDF and a text file.
One PDF · Up to 25 MB and 200 pages · 10 document languagesThe first scan may take a little longer. Keep this tab open while your pages are read. Your PDF stays on your device.
Find an invoice number without retyping.
Run OCR on an image-only invoice. Compare the actual recognized text, then search INV-2048 in your downloaded PDF.
Sample document. No personal data.Search and copy text from a scanned PDF
A scanned PDF can look like a document but behave like a picture. OCR reads printed words so you can search, copy, and save the result as a searchable PDF or text file.
Try the sample invoice: search for INV-2048, copy the total, and compare the recognized text with the original scan. Choose English, simplified Chinese, German, Italian, French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, or Portuguese for your own document.
Check important names, dates, and amounts before using the result. OCR works best on clear printed pages and is not a way to rebuild the original table, links, forms, or digital signatures.
Best for: Printed letters, receipts, invoices, and short scanned reports where you cannot already select the text.
Make sure OCR is the step you need
Scroll sideways to compare all columns.
| Your PDF | Try | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Words cannot be selected | Choose the document language and recognize text | Search for a word in the downloaded PDF. |
| Words are already selectable | Use PDF to Text or PDF to Word | Skip another recognition pass unless the existing text is wrong. |
| Blurred, faint, or tilted pages | Make a clearer scan with Scan to PDF | Readability matters more than increasing contrast afterward. |
Compare names, dates, and amounts with the original. To rewrite the recognized text, use PDF to Word. Use Edit PDF for a note or a small visible correction.
Search the words in a scanned invoice
The original invoice is a page picture. In the result, try searching for INV-2048 and compare the recognized amounts with the scan.
How to use OCR PDF
- Choose an unencrypted scanned PDF up to 25 MB and 200 source pages, or load the sample invoice.
- Choose the document language, page range and batch size, then select Recognize text. The first scan can take a little longer, so keep this tab open.
- Review the text and PDF previews, copy what you need, and download the searchable PDF or TXT file. Only selected pages appear in the result, in their original order. Check important details against the original scan.
OCR PDF: frequently asked questions
How do I make a scanned PDF searchable for free?
Choose the scanned PDF, select its language, run Recognize text, and download the searchable PDF or text file. Try the invoice sample first to see the result.
Are my PDF and recognized words uploaded?
No. Your document is processed in this browser. The first run may download the language support it needs, but your PDF and recognized text are not sent as files.
Can I OCR a PDF on iPhone or Android?
Yes, in a current browser. OCR can use substantial battery and memory, so start with a short document and keep the tab open. A desktop browser is easier for larger scans.
Which languages and documents can OCR read?
Choose English, simplified Chinese, German, Italian, French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, or Portuguese. It is designed for printed text; handwriting, decorative fonts, glare, and complicated tables can be difficult to read.
Will the searchable PDF look exactly like the original?
The page appearance is kept as a visual copy with searchable words added. Links, forms, bookmarks, and digital signatures do not carry over, so keep the original file.
Why are some OCR words missing or wrong?
Blur, glare, low resolution, a tilted page, and the wrong language can all affect recognition. Start with a sharp scan, choose the matching language, and proofread names, dates, and amounts.
Should I use OCR PDF or PDF to Text?
Try selecting a word in your PDF. If it is already selectable, PDF to Text is faster. If the page is only a picture, use OCR PDF; use PDF to Word next if you need editable paragraphs.