Make Your PDFs Searchable with OCR

Convert your scanned documents and images into searchable PDFs. Our free online OCR tool recognizes text with high accuracy, making your files easy to search and copy.

Open OCR Tool How it works
Pro tip: For the best results, use a high-quality scan with clear, straight text.
Processed
+2,100,000 files
Rating
4.9/5 (2100+)

OCR PDF — Tool

Upload your scanned PDF to begin. The tool will automatically process the file and add a searchable text layer.

Your files are always private. The entire OCR process runs securely in your browser.

How to OCR a PDF — Step by Step

Unlock the text in your scanned documents with these simple steps.

  1. Open the widget — click “Open OCR Tool” or scroll to the tool on this page.
  2. Upload your scanned PDF — drag & drop your document or select it from your computer.
  3. Automatic Text Recognition — the tool will instantly begin analyzing the images and recognizing characters to create a text layer.
  4. Download Your Searchable PDF — click the download button to save your new, intelligent PDF file.

Common use cases

  • Making scanned books, articles, and historical documents fully searchable.
  • Converting scanned invoices and receipts into documents where you can copy text.
  • Improving accessibility for screen readers and other assistive technologies.
  • Digitizing a paper archive to make it easily searchable and indexable.

Why Use Our Free Online OCR Tool?

Our OCR tool is designed for accuracy, speed, and complete data privacy.

Privacy-First

All OCR processing happens in your browser. Your confidential files are never uploaded to any server.

Searchable & Accessible

The final PDF looks the same, but now you can search for words, copy text, and use screen readers.

High Accuracy

Our advanced OCR engine accurately recognizes text and layout, even in complex documents.

Multi-Language Support

The tool can recognize text in dozens of languages, from English and Spanish to Chinese and Arabic.

Tips & Best Practices for OCR

  • The quality of the OCR depends heavily on the quality of your scan. Use a resolution of at least 300 DPI for best results.
  • Ensure the document is straight and there are no shadows or distortions on the page.
  • While OCR is highly accurate, it's always a good practice to proofread the recognized text for any minor errors, especially with handwritten or degraded text.
  • This tool adds a text layer behind the image, it does not change the visual appearance of your original scan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to make your scans searchable?

Open the tool, upload your scanned PDF, and get a fully searchable, intelligent document in seconds. It's powerful, private, and completely free.

Open the OCR Tool