How to extract text from a PDF, even from a scan
Sometimes you only need the content of a document: to paste it into an email, translate it, search it or use it in another program. The converter saves the text from a PDF as a plain TXT file. If a page is a scan or a photo, the text is recognised with OCR, which reads the letters from the image automatically.
- Load a PDF or a photo
Drop the file in the box above. Besides PDFs we accept photos of documents in JPG, PNG and WEBP.
- Choose the OCR mode
“Automatic” uses OCR only on pages without text. Also set the document language so recognition is more accurate.
- Copy or download
The text appears right below the button. Copy it with one click or download it as a .txt file.
When OCR helps
- scanned contracts, invoices and letters
- photos of documents taken with a phone
- PDFs where you cannot select the text
- files where copied text comes out as gibberish
How to get the best result
OCR works best on a sharp, straight and well-lit scan. Choose the right language – accented letters are recognised correctly only with the matching language. You can straighten a skewed photo first in the Document scanner. Tables and columns become plain text, so their layout may change a little.
Privacy
The text is read in your browser. The first time you use OCR we only download the data for the chosen language – the document itself is never sent anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Can I extract text from a photo?
Yes. Upload a photo of the document in JPG, PNG or WEBP and the text will be recognised with OCR.
Why does OCR take longer than normal reading?
OCR analyses each page as an image, letter by letter. Normal PDF text is read instantly, while a scan usually takes a few seconds per page.
Does the text keep its formatting?
A TXT file has no bold, fonts or tables. We keep line and paragraph breaks, and you can mark each page with a heading.
Is it free?
Yes, with no sign-up and no page limit.