Make a scanned PDF searchable for free 14 uses

Run optical character recognition on a scanned PDF to add a selectable, searchable text layer.

/ 5 - Be the first to rate this tool Thanks for rating!

Verification failed - please try again.

Adds an invisible, searchable text layer to scanned pages
Original page images stay exactly as they look
File is discarded immediately after your download starts

How it works

1
Upload the file you want to convert.
2
Conversion starts automatically and usually finishes in seconds.
3
Preview the result and rename the output if you like.
4
Download the converted file.

Why use this tool

Every PDF task, one place

Merge, split, compress, convert, sign, and more — no need to juggle separate apps for each job.

Private by default

Most tools process your file entirely in the browser — it's never uploaded. When a conversion needs the server, the file is deleted within the hour.

Works on any device

Runs in the browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android — nothing to install, nothing to trust but the tab.

Fast by design

No queues and no desktop app to wait on — most jobs finish in a few seconds, right where you are.

Convert to and from any format

Move between PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images, and HTML — output stays true to your original formatting.

Free, always

Every tool here is free to use, with no watermarks, page limits, or forced trial period.

Frequently asked questions

It scans the flat images of text in your document and adds an invisible, selectable, and searchable text layer on top.

No, the original visual appearance is entirely untouched. The recognized text is simply overlaid invisibly.

Accuracy depends heavily on the scan quality; high-contrast, high-resolution scans yield near-perfect results, while blurry scans may contain typos.

Standard OCR engines struggle heavily with handwriting and are primarily designed for typed or printed fonts.

Currently, the engine is optimized for English characters and standard Latin alphabets.

From the blog

How to Make Your PDFs Accessible: Screen Readers and Standards

A practical guide to making PDF documents accessible for screen readers and compliant with WCAG standards without rebuilding them from scratch.

How to Sign, Secure, and Password Protect Your PDFs Online

Learn how to protect sensitive information in your PDFs, apply password encryption, and electronically sign documents directly in your browser securely.

5 PDF Mistakes That Silently Kill Your Documents (and How to Fix Them)

Most PDF problems don't announce themselves — they surface weeks later when a printer rejects your file or a recipient sees garbled text. Here are the five most common mistakes and how to avoid every one of them.

Popular tools

Convert PDF to Excel for free

Pull tables and data out of a PDF into an editable spreadsheet.

Resize an image online for free

Resize JPG, PNG, or WebP images to exact dimensions or a percentage, right in your browser.

Compress a PDF file for free

Shrink PDF file size while keeping quality readable, right in your browser.

Convert PDF to Word for free

Turn a PDF into an editable Word document in seconds.

Convert JPG or PNG images to PDF for free

Combine one or more images into a single PDF document, right in your browser.

Merge PDF files online for free

Combine multiple PDF files into a single document in your browser. No install, no signup.

Generate a QR code for free

Create a static QR code for a URL, text, Wi-Fi, or contact card in seconds.

Generate a vCard QR code for free

Share your contact details instantly with a scannable vCard QR code.

Convert an image format for free

Convert between JPG, PNG, and WebP, right in your browser.

URL encode or decode a string online

Percent-encode or decode a URL or query string component instantly in your browser.

Format and validate JSON online

Paste JSON to pretty-print, minify, and validate it instantly in your browser.

Split a PDF into separate files for free

Extract pages or split a PDF into multiple files instantly in your browser.