OCR and text
How to make a scanned PDF searchable
A scan normally contains page images rather than selectable characters. OCR adds a best-effort text layer that can be searched and copied.
Reviewed by PDFKaka ·
Create a clean source PDF
Capture pages in even lighting, keep the camera parallel to the paper, and make the printed text large enough to read. Use Scan to PDF to arrange the images.
- Capture or select the page images.
- Arrange and rotate them correctly.
- Create the source PDF.
Run OCR on the scanned pages
OCR PDF renders each page, recognizes printed English, and adds a searchable text layer. Handwriting, curved pages, tables, and low contrast can reduce accuracy.
- Open OCR PDF and choose the scan.
- Start recognition and wait for every page.
- Search and copy sample text in the result.
Reuse the recognized text
PDF to Text produces a plain-text copy. PDF to Word creates an editable DOCX, but complex reading order and layout remain best-effort.
- Choose PDF to Text for simple extraction.
- Choose PDF to Word when a DOCX is required.
- Verify names, dates, and amounts before relying on the text.
Tools used in this workflow
Frequently asked questions
Can OCR read handwriting?
Current OCR is intended for printed English text. Handwriting recognition is not a supported promise.
Why does PDF to Text return little or no text?
The PDF may contain only scanned page images. Run OCR first, then try the text conversion again.