FROM Scanned PDF → TO Searchable PDF
How to use it
01
Choose a scanned PDF.
02
Wait — pages are rendered then OCR'd locally in order.
03
Download the searchable copy once done.
FILEMAKT / Scanned PDF → Searchable PDF
OCR PDF: Make Scanned Files Searchable
Render each page locally, run English OCR in your browser, and overlay invisible text so scanned PDFs become searchable and selectable.
ABOUT THIS TOOL
How OCR turns a scanned PDF into searchable text
A scanned PDF is just a collection of images — search, copy, and select fail because there is no text layer. This tool renders each page to an image, runs English OCR in your browser, and then writes a fresh PDF whose pages still show the original image but carry invisible text in their exact positions. The result searchable; the original stays untouched.
OCR is probabilistic: handwriting, tiny fonts, and rotated or skewed scans reduce accuracy, so the overlay is checked by eye within the preview before you download. For long documents, memory is deliberately bounded (50 pages) to keep the interaction responsive even on mobile hardware.
WHY THIS TOOL
Never uploaded: rendering, recognition, and assembly happen in one browser tab.
English OCR is shipped locally, so even the model does not rely on analytics.
The generated searchable file preserves page images while the overlay enables search/select.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Before you start
- Review pasthroughed text visually; OCR confidence varies with scan quality.
- If the document has more than 50 pages, split it with the Split PDF tool first.
- OCR is English-only by design to keep the language model tiny and private.
FAQ / OCR-PDF
Frequently asked questions
Is original text preserved?
The invisible overlay provides selectable text on top of the rendered page image.
Language?
Currently English only; additional languages would multiply size unnecessarily.
Why does scanning cap at 50 pages?
A bound page limit prevents runaway memory on long documents; contact support for an exception.