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OCR: make a PDF searchable

Read the text in a scanned PDF and make the pages searchable and copyable, with the pages looking exactly the same. Runs in your browser, and your file is never uploaded.

or drop it here

Processed on this device. Nothing is uploaded.

How it works

  1. 1Add your scanned PDF.
  2. 2Choose the language and the pages to read.
  3. 3Download the searchable PDF.

Your file stays on this device

PDF Tools does the work inside your browser. Your file isn't uploaded or stored, and the site is technically blocked from sending it anywhere.

See how to check it yourself

Good to know

  • Works best on clear, upright scans of printed text. Handwriting and photos of curved pages are not read well.
  • Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Russian. Other languages, such as Arabic or Urdu, are not supported.
  • The first scan loads about 3 MB of language data from this site. After that it is quick to start.
  • Reading takes a few seconds per page, so long documents take a while. Keep the tab open until it finishes.

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