Make a Scanned PDF Searchable
A scanned PDF is a stack of pictures: you can read it, but you cannot search it, highlight a sentence or copy a paragraph. This tool reads each scanned page with OCR (Tesseract) and lays the words it finds, invisibly, over the picture. You get the same document back, looking exactly as it did, but now Ctrl+F, selection and screen readers work.
Also known as: OCR PDF · searchable PDF · PDF OCR · scanned PDF to text layer
Encrypted upload · deleted right after conversion
Your files are deleted automatically
Uploads are removed as soon as processing finishes, and converted files are deleted after 1 hour. Read our privacy policy.
How to make a scanned PDF searchable
Step 1
1. Add your PDF file
Drag your PDF file into the box, or choose it from your device. It can be up to 95 MB.
Step 2
2. Choose your settings
Adjust Language (English), or keep the starting values in brackets, which suit most files.
Step 3
3. Press Make searchable
The work happens on our servers, and you can follow its progress.
Step 4
4. Download your PDF file
Your upload is already deleted, and the result is deleted after one hour.
Worth knowing
OCR reads printed text well and handwriting poorly, and it can misread small, faint or skewed print, so search may miss the odd word. Up to 40 scanned pages are read per job; pages that already have text are skipped and do not count. Pages scanned sideways should be turned upright first with Rotate PDF.
Why make a scanned PDF searchable?
- Searching a scanned contract or statement for a name or a figure
- Copying a paragraph out of a scanned book or article
- Making scanned paperwork findable by your computer's search
- Letting a screen reader read a scanned document aloud
What changes
| Property | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Looks | A picture of each page | Exactly the same |
| Search | Finds nothing | Finds the words |
| Select and copy | Not possible | Works like normal text |
| Pages with text already | — | Left untouched |
Frequently asked questions
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