Make a scanned PDF searchable
Add a hidden text layer so you can search, select and copy the text in scans.
Report a problem with this tool
How to use OCR PDF
Add your scanned PDF
Drop the PDF onto the page, or click to choose it. Scans, faxes and photographed documents all work.
Pick the language
Choose the language of the text, and a second one if the document mixes two. Read all pages or just a range like 1-5.
Make it searchable
Click Make PDF searchable. Each page is read in turn, then download the searchable PDF, and the plain text too if you want it.
Why use Utils365
Looks exactly the same
The text is added as an invisible layer behind the scan, so every page looks just as it did. Nothing is redrawn or recompressed.
Search, select and copy
Find words with Ctrl+F, highlight lines and copy text in any PDF reader, including Chinese, Arabic, Hindi and other scripts.
Skips pages that already have text
Pages that are already searchable are left as they are, so mixed documents are quick to finish.
Your file stays with you
The pages are read on your device. Your PDF is never uploaded to a server.
Frequently asked questions
What does OCR do to my PDF?
OCR (optical character recognition) reads the words in the scanned images and adds them as hidden text over each word. The pages look the same, but you can now search, select and copy the text.
Which languages can it read?
19 languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Arabic, Hindi, Thai, Japanese, Korean and Chinese. English is always read as well, and you can add a second language for mixed documents.
How many pages can I do at once?
Up to 50 pages per run. For a longer document, choose a page range such as 1-50, then run 51-100 on the searchable file you get.
Why does the first run take longer?
The language data (2–15 MB per language) downloads the first time and is then kept by your browser. After that, each page takes a few seconds.
How accurate is the text?
Clear, straight scans at normal print size read very well. Blurry, skewed, handwritten or very small text can come out with mistakes, so check names and numbers before relying on them.
Can I get the text on its own?
Yes. Tick Also download the text (.txt) to get a plain text file next to the searchable PDF.
Does it work on password-protected PDFs?
If the PDF needs a password to open, remove it first with Unlock PDF, then add the unlocked file here.