Make scanned PDFs searchable. OCR (optical character recognition) reads the words in each page image and adds an invisible text layer, so you can search, select and copy the text. The pages look exactly the same. Your file is processed in your browser and never uploaded to our server.
- Free to use
- No sign-up needed
- Works on phone and desktop
How it works
- Choose your scanned PDF.
- Pick the document’s language and the accuracy you need.
- Press Make searchable. The first run downloads the recognition engine.
- Download your searchable PDF.
Why make a PDF searchable?
- Find things fast with Ctrl+F or Cmd+F.
- Copy and paste text from scanned letters, receipts and books.
- Get better results from PDF to Word and Translate PDF.
- Improve accessibility for screen readers.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is it?
Clear, printed scans at a normal size usually read very well. Handwriting, low-resolution photos and unusual fonts are harder. Choose High accuracy for small text.
Which languages are supported?
More than 25, including English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa.
Why does the first run take longer?
Your browser downloads the recognition engine and language data once (about 5–15 MB), then keeps them for next time.
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