“Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.”
OCR PDF Online
Make a scanned PDF's text searchable and selectable by adding an invisible, positioned text layer under the original image — the page still looks identical.
How to use OCR PDF online
- 1
Upload your files
Drag and drop or click to select your file(s). Uploads go directly to encrypted cloud storage over HTTPS. (PDF)
- 2
Run the tool: OCR PDF
Processing happens instantly in the cloud — no software to install, works on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android.
- 3
Download the result
Get your processed file via a secure temporary link. All files are deleted automatically about a day after upload.
Frequently asked questions
Will OCR change how my scanned PDF looks?
No — the original scanned image is untouched; OCR adds an invisible text layer beneath it, so the file looks identical but is now searchable and copy-pasteable.
What languages does OCR support?
English, Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, and Arabic — pick the document's language before running for the most accurate results.
Can I convert an OCR'd PDF to Word afterward?
Yes — once OCR adds a text layer, PDF to Word can extract that text into an editable document, which isn't possible on a raw scan.
Why is some of my scan's text not being recognised?
Recognition accuracy depends on the scan. Low-resolution pages, skewed or rotated scans, heavy background patterns and faint print all reduce it. A straight scan at 300 DPI or better gives markedly cleaner results than a hurried phone photo.
Does OCR read handwriting?
No — it recognises printed and typed text. Handwritten notes, signatures and annotations are left as part of the page image, so they stay visible but will not become searchable.
Do I need to run OCR before using the AI tools?
For an image-only scan, yes. Chat with PDF, AI Summarizer and Translate PDF all read a document's text layer, and a raw scan has none — so they would see an empty document. Running OCR first gives them something to read.