PDF to Text Converter
Keep the words. Leave the page layout behind.
Turn selectable PDF text into text. Choose reading order, check the extracted words and download. Up to 50 MB and 100 pages.
This is a text export. Pictures, complex tables, equations and the original page design are not rebuilt. Scans need OCR PDF first. For individual pictures, use Extract Images from PDF.
Copy words from a PDF into a simple text file
Use PDF to Text to save words without pictures or page styling. This PDF to TXT converter makes a plain text copy you can copy, search or edit. Extract selectable words from the pages you choose. Compare single-column and two-column reading order, decide whether to keep page separators, and remove repeated headers and footers when they interrupt the text. Copy the reviewed result or download UTF-8 TXT.
Plain text leaves out pictures and page styling. Check reading order and important numbers against the PDF, especially in tables and unusual layouts. A picture-only scan needs OCR first; missing text should never be mistaken for an empty page.
Best for: People who need a lightweight, searchable text copy of a report or document that already contains selectable PDF text.
How to use PDF to Text
- Choose a PDF and enter the pages you want to extract.
- Set reading order, page separators and repeated-header options, then review the text.
- Copy the result or download the same text as a TXT file.
Frequently asked questions
How do I extract text from a PDF?
Choose the PDF and pages, review the reading-order options and create the text result. Copy it or download the same content as UTF-8 TXT.
Can this read a scanned PDF?
This tool extracts existing text. For image-only scans, use OCR PDF to recognize their words and download a text file or searchable PDF.
Why is the text order different from the PDF page?
PDF text can be stored in a different order from its visible layout. Try the two-column option for side-by-side columns and review the result. Tables, forms and unusual layouts may still need manual correction.
Does the TXT file keep formatting and images?
No. A TXT file contains plain text only. Images, page artwork, fonts, and most formatting are not carried into the export.
Is the output encoded as UTF-8?
Yes. The downloaded plain-text file uses UTF-8 encoding, which is widely supported by text editors and development tools.
Are my PDFs uploaded to extract their text?
No. Text extraction runs locally in your browser. Your selected document contents are not sent to an AdaPDF conversion server.