OCR PDF Online Free — Make Scanned PDFs Searchable

Convert scanned PDFs to searchable text free online. 100% browser-based OCR using Tesseract.js — your files never leave your device. Scanned PDFs are just images of text: OCR recognises each character and adds a real text layer so the document becomes selectable, copyable, and searchable. Perfect for old documents, scanned contracts, photo receipts, and archived paperwork. Supports English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, and Polish. No signup, no watermarks, 25MB limit.

How to use OCR PDF

  1. Upload your scanned PDF — up to 25MB, processed entirely in your browser.
  2. OCR runs automatically — Tesseract.js recognises text on every page.
  3. Download your searchable PDF — text is now selectable and Ctrl+F searchable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this OCR tool completely free?

Yes. PDF2Tool's OCR tool is 100% free with no signup, no watermarks, and no daily limits. A 25MB file size limit applies.

Does my scanned document get uploaded to a server?

No. OCR processing runs entirely in your browser using Tesseract.js and WebAssembly. Your file never leaves your device.

How accurate is the text recognition?

Accuracy depends on scan quality. For clean, high-resolution scans (300dpi+), expect 90%+ accuracy. Blurry or low-quality scans may have lower accuracy. We recommend scanning at 300dpi for best results.

How long does OCR take?

A 1–2 page PDF typically takes 10–30 seconds. A 10-page document may take 2–3 minutes. Processing time depends on your device's speed and the scan quality.

What is the maximum file size?

25MB. For larger scanned documents, try splitting the PDF into smaller parts first using our Split PDF tool.

Can I OCR a photo I took on my phone?

If your photo has been converted to a PDF, yes. For best results, ensure the photo is well-lit and the text is in focus.

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