Create searchable PDF

OCR – create searchable PDFs (text layer above scanned pages)

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) runs in your browser, so no files are uploaded. An invisible text layer is added over image-based PDF pages, making the document searchable and the text copyable. Set the language (multiple languages can be selected), the model (Accurate/Fast) and the DPI (120–300) for the desired quality–speed balance.

How to use?

1. Add PDF(s): click to upload or drag and drop your files.
2. Select language(s): choose the OCR languages (multiple languages can be selected).
3. Model & DPI: choose the Accurate or Fast model and set the DPI (typically 150–200).
4. Start OCR: the searchable document(s) will be saved in a ZIP archive.

Typical uses

• Scanned invoices and contracts – digitize and make them searchable.
• Accounting/archiving – indexing for quick retrieval.
• Educational notes and articles – add a searchable text layer.
• Before portal submission – enable text highlighting and easier referencing.
• Citing content more accurately with copyable text.

Frequently asked questions

Is handwriting supported?

OCR is mainly optimized for printed/typed text; it is only partially suitable for handwriting.

Does the appearance of the PDF change?

No. The images remain; the text layer is invisible, so the appearance is unchanged.

Which languages are available?

The Language selector offers dozens of languages; you can select multiple languages for mixed language documents.

Can password-protected PDFs be processed?

No. Processing password-protected PDFs is not supported – remove the protection first, then try again.

Related tools: PDF compression, PDF merge, PDF → image.

OCR turns scans into usable documents

A scanned PDF is often just a stack of images. You can see the text, but search, copy and screen-reader workflows may not work. OCR adds a text layer so invoices, notes, contracts and archived letters become easier to search and reference. For many users this is the difference between a PDF that merely looks correct and a PDF that is actually usable.

OCR quality depends on the source. Clean, upright scans with good contrast usually work well. Photos taken at an angle, faint handwriting, stamps over text and very low-resolution scans can reduce accuracy. If the document is important, search for a few known names, dates and amounts after export. That quick check reveals whether the OCR text is reliable enough for the task.

When to run OCR locally

• When a scan includes personal, legal, financial or internal company information.
• When you need searchable archives without uploading every page to a cloud service.
• When the PDF should remain visually unchanged but gain copyable text.
• When you plan to compress or merge the document after recognition.

OCR does not replace careful review. It improves access and searchability, but important documents should still be checked before they are sent, stored or used as evidence.

A safer PDF workflow in three minutes

Before using any PDF tool, make a working copy and leave the original untouched. This gives you a clean fallback if a page is removed, a mark is misplaced, or an export setting produces a result you do not want. For sensitive documents, also check whether every page belongs in the file before you begin. Removing unrelated pages early is one of the simplest privacy improvements.

After export, open the output as a recipient would. Check page order, page orientation, small print, signatures, stamps, form fields and file size. If the PDF will be emailed, uploaded to a portal or stored in a shared folder, decide whether it should be compressed or password-protected first. The final copy should be the exact file you intend to share, not a draft that still needs explanation.

Use this quick checklist

• Work on a copy, not the only original.
• Remove pages and images that the recipient does not need.
• Use a clear filename with purpose and date.
• Open the exported PDF before sharing it.
• Password-protect sensitive outgoing files and send the password separately.