OCR PDF: Make Scans Searchable
Add a hidden text layer to scanned PDFs so you can search, select and copy their text. The pages look exactly the same.
Files stay on your device
How it works
- 1Add your scanned PDFsDrop one or more PDFs. They're read on your device.
- 2Pick the languageChoose the language of the text, and add English for mixed documents.
- 3DownloadEach PDF gets a hidden text layer you can search and copy.
Questions
Are my PDFs uploaded?
No. The tool runs inside your browser, so your PDFs never leave your device and nobody else can see them.
Will my pages look different?
No. The recognised text is added as an invisible layer on top of each page, lined up with the words in the scan. The images, drawings and layout stay exactly as they were.
What about pages that already have text?
By default they're left alone, because their text is already searchable. Turn off "Skip pages that already have text" to recognise every page.
How accurate is it?
Clean scans at 300 DPI in a supported language read very well. Handwriting, very small print, heavy shadows and decorative fonts are harder. The tool uses Tesseract, the open-source engine behind many OCR apps.
Is there a page limit?
Up to 200 pages per PDF. Each page takes a few seconds, so long documents take a while; you can keep working in another tab.
Does it work with password-protected PDFs?
A PDF that needs a password to open, or that blocks editing, is refused with a message instead of producing a broken file. If you know the password, remove it with Unlock PDF first, then add the unlocked file here.