How to use the PDF to Text Converter
- Drop a PDF into the box, or click choose files.
- For scanned PDFs, pick the language of the text.
- Each page is processed in turn and marked with its page number.
- Copy the text, or click Download .txt.
Two kinds of PDF
Digital PDFs, made from Word, a website or an app, already contain real text. That text is copied exactly, with no OCR and no mistakes. Scanned PDFs are just pictures of pages, so the words have to be read with OCR. This page checks each page and does the right thing automatically, even in a PDF that mixes both.
What's kept and what isn't
You get the words, in reading order, with line breaks. Formatting, images, tables and columns aren't kept: complex layouts may come out with columns one after the other. Untick Keep line breaks to join lines into paragraphs, which is handy for pasting into a document.
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert a scanned PDF to text?
Yes. Scanned pages are read with OCR. Choose the right language for the best results.
Is there a page limit?
No fixed limit. Digital pages are instant; scanned pages take a few seconds each.
Can I convert a password-protected PDF?
Not yet. Save a copy without the password first.
Are my images uploaded?
No. The text is recognized in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.
Which languages work?
English, Thai, Burmese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Hindi, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Polish and Turkish.
Updated