Free OCR PDF
Turn a scanned PDF or photos of pages into a searchable PDF you can select and copy text from. Runs in your browser.
Add a scanned PDF or photos of pages, choose the language of the text and let the tool read it. You get a PDF that looks the same but can be searched and copied, plus the plain text. Everything happens in your browser.
How to use the OCR PDF
- Add your scan. Choose a scanned PDF, or select photos of pages in JPG, PNG or WebP.
- Pick the language. Choose the language the text is written in. The reader works best when it matches.
- Download the result. Get the searchable PDF, copy the text, or save it as a .txt file. Check numbers and names against the original.
What is the OCR PDF?
A scanned document is only a picture of text. You cannot search it, select a sentence or copy a figure out of it. OCR, short for optical character recognition, reads the picture and finds the words.
This tool reads each page, then rebuilds the PDF with an invisible text layer on top of the original image. The pages look the same, but you can search them, select text and copy it. It also gives you the plain text. The reading happens in your browser, so your document is not sent to our servers.
Signplify tools run in your browser, so there is no signup, no watermark and no limit on how often you use it.
Getting started with the OCR PDF
Using the ocr pdf takes a minute or two. Your progress is saved in this browser, so you can come back later.
Tips for better results
Use a straight, sharp scan at 200 to 300 dpi. Blurry or tilted pages are read much worse.
Pick the right language before you start. A wrong choice gives strange letters.
Always check amounts, dates and names against the original. Automatic reading can misread poor scans.
Privacy and where your data goes
Documents and files you use here are processed on your own device. Signplify does not receive what you type or the files you open, which makes it suitable for sensitive information. If you clear your browser data, any saved draft is removed.
Frequently asked questions
Is my document uploaded?
No. The pages are read in your browser. The first time you use the tool it downloads the reader and the language data, which contain no information about your file.
Does it read handwriting?
Not reliably. It works best on printed text. Handwriting is often misread.
Which languages are supported?
English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian and Dutch. Languages that need other scripts, such as Arabic, are not supported yet.
Why is the first run slow?
The reader and the language data are downloaded once and then kept by your browser. Later runs start faster.
Can I search the text after this?
Yes. The downloaded PDF keeps the look of your scan and adds a hidden text layer, so you can search it and copy text from it.
Does the document leave my browser?
No. The pages are read in your browser and nothing is sent to our servers.
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