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OCR PDF guide

How to make a scanned PDF searchable with OCR

Recognize supported printed English text on image-only pages and add a searchable text layer to a new PDF.

Updated September 2026 · PDFKaka EditorialOpen OCR PDF
Capture the OCR PDF workspace at 1366×768 with synthetic sample content and the controls used by this workflow visible.

Run OCR on the PDF

  1. Choose a PDF containing scanned pages and confirm that the OCR page limit is not exceeded.
  2. Run printed-English recognition while keeping the browser tab active.
  3. Search for several known phrases and manually verify names, dates, totals, and identifiers.

What the current OCR can reliably recognize

Printed English OCR only; recognition is best-effort. Handwriting and other languages are not supported as reliable workflows.

FAQ

Does PDFKaka OCR handwriting or every language?

No. The current OCR is intended for printed English and uses best-effort recognition. Handwriting and other languages are not supported as reliable workflows.

What is the current input limit for OCR PDF?

PDF; One PDF ≤50 MiB, ≤100 pages; ≤25 scanned pages for OCR.

What does OCR PDF create?

recognition is best-effort, not a guaranteed transcription; Searchable PDF ≤150 MiB.

Open OCR PDF→