Is PDF OCR processed locally?
OCR runs in your browser on rendered page images. The PDF stays on your device during recognition — avoid confidential scans on shared computers.
Extract text from scanned PDF files directly in your browser.
Preparing the editor...
The guide and instructions on this page are available while the tool loads.
PDF OCR recognizes text inside scanned PDFs and image-only pages so you can copy, search, or reuse the content.
Each page is rendered and processed with OCR in the browser — accuracy depends on scan contrast, skew, and font clarity.
Proofread output against the original. For editable Word files, combine OCR with PDF to Word only when the PDF already contains selectable text.
Typical tasks this tool is built for.
OCR runs locally in your browser on rendered PDF pages. Scanned files are not uploaded to an external OCR service in this workflow.
Practical tips before you download or share the output.
OCR accuracy depends on scan quality. Blurry files, handwritten text, and complex layouts may produce imperfect results.
Longer reads that pair well with this tool.
Common next steps after using this tool.
Combine multiple PDF files into one document in your browser.
Compress scanned and image-heavy PDF files directly in your browser.
Add password protection to PDF files directly in your browser.
Convert text-based PDF files into editable Word documents directly in your browser.
Convert text-based PDF files into Excel spreadsheets directly in your browser.
Extract selected pages from a PDF directly in your browser.
Situations where this workflow saves time.
OCR runs in your browser on rendered page images. The PDF stays on your device during recognition — avoid confidential scans on shared computers.
Low contrast, skewed pages, handwriting, and small fonts reduce accuracy. Try a cleaner scan or a higher render quality if available.
OCR outputs text content, not a reflowed replica of the design. Expect to fix line breaks and spacing manually.
OCR gives you text from scans. PDF to Word works on PDFs that already contain selectable text. Use both in sequence when needed.
Browse related tools or open the full workspace.