OCR PDF

Convert scanned PDFs and images into searchable, selectable text using OCR. Supports multiple languages and secure browser processing.

Convert scanned PDFs, image-based documents, and photos into searchable, selectable text using OCR. Supports 100+ languages and reconstructs the original layout so the output looks identical but is fully text-searchable. Files are encrypted in transit and auto-deleted within 1 hour.

Upload your PDF to get started — no sign-up required.

How to Make a Scanned PDF Searchable

  1. Upload your scanned PDF, image-based PDF, or a photo of a physical document.
  2. Select the primary language of your document - we support 100+ languages.
  3. Click Start OCR. Our AI detects and transcribes all visible text on every page.
  4. Download your searchable PDF with a hidden, selectable text layer overlaid on the original image.

Why Use PDFCrush?

  • Make scanned documents fully searchable with Ctrl+F in any PDF viewer
  • Supports 100+ languages including Latin, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean scripts
  • Reconstructs the original layout - PDF looks identical but is now fully searchable
  • Works on receipts, contracts, textbooks, passports, and handwritten notes

Your Privacy & Security

Files are processed on encrypted servers using TLS and are permanently and automatically deleted after 1 hour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the OCR conversion modify my document's original underlying visual layout?

No. The engine reads your text paths, runs optical character recognition analysis, and generates an invisible, selectable text layer directly on top of your original background image canvas, preserving your original visual layout.

How does the text extraction system perform on low quality camera snapshots?

Performance relies heavily on lighting, contrast, and resolution. While high contrast, clean scans can reach up to 99% accuracy, heavily blurred, skewed, or low contrast mobile snapshots may experience lower accuracy.

Can I process documents written in languages other than English?

Yes. The engine includes comprehensive multi language character dictionary modules. You can select your document's primary language profile from the interface dropdown to ensure accurate character extraction.

Is my parsed document content secure from external language model training?

Yes. The character analysis model runs locally using client side WebAssembly wrappers. No document data is transmitted to external servers, protecting your information from being scraped or used for model training.

Can I copy and highlight text directly after running the OCR tool?

Yes. The added text layer maps directly over the visible characters, enabling instant text selection, highlighting, and search functionality via standard PDF viewers.

What is the maximum page count I can run through the OCR engine in one session?

There is no page limitation, but because processing happens locally within your browser tab, parsing long documents will consume local CPU resources sequentially.

Does this tool support multi column newspaper or research report layouts?

Yes. The character layout engine maps text coordinates precisely, allowing it to accurately follow column gaps and preserve natural reading orders across complex layouts.

Why is the output document file size larger after running an OCR analysis?

The file footprint expands slightly because the tool inserts a new text layer containing coordinate definitions for every character over the existing image background.