Unlock the text within your scanned documents with our free online OCR PDF tool. Convert scanned PDFs into editable and searchable files in seconds.
Tired of manually typing text from scanned documents? Our OCR PDF tool is the perfect solution. It uses advanced Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to extract text from scanned PDFs, making them editable and searchable.
Transform your scanned documents into valuable, accessible information with just a few clicks. No more retyping – just accurate, searchable text.
Convert scanned PDFs into searchable and editable documents.
or click to choose file
Maximum file size: 20MB (OCR limit)
An OCR PDF is a PDF document that has been processed using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. This process converts scanned images of text into actual text characters, making the PDF searchable, editable, and selectable. This is particularly useful for scanned documents, images, or PDFs that were originally created from physical documents.
Use cases include:
Convert scanned documents to editable Word files.
Make scanned legal documents searchable for quick information retrieval.
Extract text from image-based PDFs for research purposes.
Create accessible PDFs for visually impaired users.
Digitize historical documents and make them searchable.
Our OCR PDF tool makes these tasks simple and efficient.
Converting a scanned PDF to a searchable PDF is easy with our online tool:
Upload your scanned PDF file.
Our tool will automatically perform OCR to recognize the text.
Download your newly created searchable PDF file.
Start converting your scanned PDFs today and unlock the power of searchable text!
Our OCR PDF tool offers several advantages over other solutions:
You get a tool that’s:
Convert PDF to editable Word documents. Preserves formatting, tables, and images.
Extract tables from PDF to Excel spreadsheets. Perfect for data analysis.
Chat with your PDF using AI. Ask questions, summarize content, and extract key information.
Convert PDF pages into high-quality JPG images. Extract images or convert entire pages instantly.
Find answers to common questions about our PDF tools
Our OCR PDF tool utilizes advanced text recognition technology to ensure high accuracy. However, the quality of the original scanned document can impact the final result. Clear, high-resolution scans generally produce the best text recognition outcomes.
We currently support a wide range of languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, and many more. We are continuously working to expand our language support to meet the needs of our users.
Yes, your privacy and data security are our top priorities. We use secure connections to protect your files during upload and processing. Additionally, we automatically delete your files from our servers after a short period of time.
Currently, our OCR PDF tool processes one file at a time to ensure optimal performance and accuracy. You can easily convert multiple files by processing them sequentially.
After performing OCR, you can typically download the result as a searchable PDF or a plain text file (.txt). We are exploring options to add more export formats in the future.
No, our OCR PDF tool is completely web-based. You can access it directly from your browser without the need to install any software or plugins.
Yes, there is a file size limit to ensure smooth processing for all users. Please refer to our usage guidelines for the current file size limitations.
The conversion time depends on the size and complexity of the scanned PDF. Simple documents are usually processed within seconds, while larger or more complex documents may take a bit longer.
The accuracy of OCR depends on the quality of the scan. Try to improve the scan quality, ensure good lightning, and try again. If the problem persists, try another tool, or manually type the missing text.
Our OCR PDF tool offers a free version with certain limitations. We also offer premium plans with additional features and higher usage limits. Check our pricing page for more details.
Can't find the answer you're looking for? Please chat with our friendly team.
From quick edits to advanced document handling, ShrinkMyPDF offers a complete suite of tools designed for speed, simplicity, and precision. No technical skills needed — just upload and go.
Start using ShrinkMyPDF now — fast, secure, and completely free.