Make scanned PDFs searchable with OCR
A scanned PDF is really just a picture of a page, so you cannot select, copy, or search its text. This free OCR PDF tool fixes that, entirely inside your browser. It reads every page with optical character recognition, then rebuilds your PDF with an invisible text layer placed exactly over the words. The document looks identical, but now you can search it, select text, and copy from it like any normal PDF.
All recognition runs locally with JavaScript, so your document is never uploaded to a server, which keeps contracts, records, and scans private. The first time you use a language its data is downloaded once and cached. Works best on clear, high-contrast scans, and supports English, Arabic, and more. It works on desktop and mobile, though large documents take longer because OCR is processor-intensive.
How to OCR a PDF
Add your scanned PDF, choose the language of the document, and press Make searchable. Wait for the progress bar to finish, and your searchable PDF downloads automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded for OCR?
No. Recognition happens entirely in your browser. Your file never leaves your device, is never stored, and is never shared.
Will the document look different?
No. The original page image is kept exactly as it was. The recognized text is added as an invisible layer on top, so the document looks identical but becomes searchable.
Does it support Arabic?
Yes. Choose Arabic or English plus Arabic. Recognition is most accurate on clear, printed scans rather than handwriting.
Why is it slow on big files?
OCR analyses every page pixel by pixel, which is processor-intensive. Many pages or high-resolution scans take longer, especially on phones.
How can I get the best accuracy?
Use a sharp, high-contrast scan, make sure pages are straight, and select the exact language of the document.