pdfcdf
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OCR PDF

Recognize printed text from a scanned PDF or image (English).

Drop a scanned PDF or image

or browse your device

PDF, JPG, PNG

How to OCR a scanned PDF (recognize text)

Turn a scanned PDF or image into readable, selectable text with OCR (optical character recognition). pdfcdf recognizes printed text right in your browser — your scan never gets uploaded.

  1. 1Open the OCR tool and upload a scanned PDF or image.
  2. 2Click “Extract text (OCR)” and wait while it recognizes the text.
  3. 3Download the recognized text as a .txt file.
Read the full OCR PDF guide →

Frequently asked questions

Is the OCR really private if it downloads a language file?
Yes. Only the OCR engine and English language model download once (like loading any library). Your actual document is read locally and never uploaded.
Which languages are supported?
OCR currently recognizes English. It works best on clear, printed text.
Is pdfcdf free to use?
Yes. Every tool on pdfcdf is completely free, with no account, no watermarks, and no limits on how many files you process.
Are my files safe? Do they get uploaded?
Your files never leave your device. Every tool runs entirely in your browser, so your documents are processed locally and are never uploaded to a server or seen by anyone.
Do I need to create an account or sign up?
No. pdfcdf works instantly with no sign-up, no email, and no software to install — just open the tool and go.
Does it work on mobile phones and tablets?
Yes. pdfcdf runs in any modern browser on phones, tablets, Mac, Windows and Linux — nothing to download.

Extract text from a scanned PDF on your device

Where the file saves and what your operating system can do on its own both change from device to device. These guides cover the specifics:

OCR PDF on iPhoneOCR PDF on AndroidOCR PDF on MacOCR PDF on WindowsOCR PDF on ChromebookOCR PDF on iPad

Related tools

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