PDF Lab / Extract
OCR PDF and Images
Extract text from scanned PDFs and images. Use local OCR for privacy, or switch to server OCR when you need API-powered processing and searchable PDF output.
Workspace
Upload a PDF or image for OCR
Choose local mode to keep files in your browser, or turn it off to use the server OCR engine.
What is OCR (Optical Character Recognition)?
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is a technology that converts different types of documents, such as scanned paper documents, PDF files, or images captured by a camera, into editable and searchable text. When you scan a document, it creates an image - even if it contains text, that text is just a picture. OCR analyzes the image and recognizes the characters, converting them into actual text data.
Our free online OCR tool uses advanced machine learning algorithms to accurately recognize text in over 20 languages. Whether you have scanned contracts, old documents, photos of whiteboards, or PDF files created from scanners, our OCR tool can extract the text and make it available for editing, searching, and copying.
The extracted text can be downloaded as a searchable PDF (where the original appearance is preserved but text becomes selectable) or as a text-only PDF for easy editing and manipulation. This makes previously inaccessible content fully usable in your digital workflow.
How to Extract Text from PDFs and Images
Upload Your File
Click the upload area or drag and drop your scanned PDF or image file. We support PDF documents, JPG, PNG, and other common image formats.
Select the Language
Choose the primary language of your document from our dropdown menu. This helps our OCR engine recognize characters more accurately, especially for non-Latin scripts.
Pick Local or Server Processing
Toggle "Process locally (no upload)" to keep everything in your browser for privacy, or leave it off to use the hosted OCR engine for larger files.
View and Download Results
Once processing is complete, you'll see the extracted text displayed on screen. Download the original PDF with searchable text layer, or download the text-only version for editing. Local runs can be saved as TXT directly.
Why Use PDF Lab's OCR Tool?
20+ Languages Supported
Extract text from documents in English, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Spanish, Russian, and many more languages.
High Accuracy Recognition
Our OCR engine uses advanced AI to achieve high accuracy even with complex fonts, handwriting, and low-quality scans.
PDF and Image Support
Process both PDF documents and image files (JPG, PNG, etc.). Perfect for scanned documents, photos of text, and screenshots.
Searchable PDF Output
Create searchable PDFs that look exactly like the original but with selectable text. Perfect for archiving and document management.
Text-Only Export
Download extracted text as a clean text PDF for editing, quoting, or repurposing the content in other documents.
Free with No Limits
Process documents without registration or payment. Local mode keeps files on your device; server mode helps with larger documents. Completely free for personal and professional use.
Common Use Cases for OCR
Tips for Better OCR Results
Use High-Quality Scans
Higher resolution images (300 DPI or more) produce better OCR results. If scanning documents, use the highest quality setting available.
Ensure Good Contrast
Documents with clear contrast between text and background are recognized more accurately. Avoid scanning on colored or textured backgrounds.
Select Correct Language
Always select the primary language of your document. This significantly improves recognition accuracy, especially for non-Latin scripts.
Straighten Skewed Documents
Scan or photograph documents as straight as possible. Tilted or rotated text can reduce OCR accuracy significantly.
Pick the Right Mode
Use local mode for sensitive, small-to-medium files to keep data on your device. Switch to server mode for larger PDFs or when you need faster throughput.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a scanned PDF and a regular PDF?
A regular PDF contains actual text data that can be selected and searched. A scanned PDF is essentially an image of a document - it looks like text but the computer sees it as a picture. OCR converts the image into actual searchable text.
Can I run OCR without uploading my file?
Yes. Toggle "Process locally (no upload)" to run OCR entirely in your browser using Tesseract.js. It is best for privacy and small/medium files. Leave it off to use the hosted engine for bigger documents.
Can OCR recognize handwriting?
Our OCR tool can recognize some handwritten text, especially neat handwriting. However, accuracy varies depending on the legibility of the writing. Printed text generally produces the best results.
How accurate is the OCR?
Accuracy depends on image quality, font clarity, and document condition. With good quality scans of printed documents, accuracy typically exceeds 95%. Complex layouts, unusual fonts, or poor quality images may reduce accuracy.
Is my document secure?
Yes, all uploaded files are processed securely and automatically deleted after you download the results. We never store or share your document content.
Can I OCR multiple pages?
Yes, you can upload multi-page PDF documents. The OCR will process all pages and extract text from the entire document.
What file formats are supported?
We support PDF files and common image formats including JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, and TIFF. Most scanned documents and photos will work perfectly.
Extract Text from Your Documents Now
Convert scanned PDFs and images into searchable, editable text in seconds.
Start OCR Processing