OCR: make a scanned PDF searchable
Turn a scan into a PDF you can search and copy text from. The page images stay exactly the same; an invisible text layer is added.
Files stay in this browser tab. Close the page and they are gone.
How it works
- Add the scanned PDF.
- Choose the document’s language.
- Download the searchable PDF, or copy the text.
Questions
How accurate is it?
Very good for clear, straight scans of printed text. Handwriting, low-quality photos and unusual fonts give weaker results.
Why does the first run take longer?
The first time, your browser downloads the language model (about 1–3 MB per language). After that it is cached.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. The tool runs entirely in your browser, so your files never leave your device and nothing is kept after you close the page. You can check it yourself: once the page has loaded, turn on airplane mode — the tool keeps working.
Is it free? Is there a file limit?
Yes, it is free, with no sign-up and no watermark. There is no upload limit because nothing is uploaded; very large files are limited only by your device’s memory.