OCR PDF

Turn scanned PDFs into searchable, copyable documents with PDFLUX OCR PDF. This online tool uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to detect text inside scans and images, then makes it selectable and editable. You can turn image‑only PDFs into real, text‑based files in just a few clicks—directly in your browser and free to use.

How to OCR PDF Online

1. First, click “Use Tool Now”
   Open the PDFLUX OCR PDF tool in your browser.
2. Then upload your scanned PDF
   Drag and drop your PDF into the upload area, or click to choose a file from your computer, phone, or tablet. Scanned documents and image‑based PDFs work best here.
3. Next, choose language and output (if available)
   Select the main language of the text in your document. If the tool offers options, choose whether you want a searchable PDF, plain text, or another output like Word.
4. After that, click “Start OCR”
   The tool analyzes each page, recognizes the characters, and converts the images of text into real text.
5. Finally, download your OCR‑processed file
   Save the searchable PDF or text file to your device. You can now search, copy, and edit the text much more easily.

Features

✅ Convert scanned PDFs to searchable text – Turn image‑only documents into real, text‑based files
✅ Keep original layout (when exporting to PDF) – Add an invisible text layer while the visual layout stays similar
✅ Support for multi‑page documents – OCR entire reports, books, or multi‑page scans
✅ Language selection – Improve accuracy by choosing the correct language, if the option exists
✅ Export as PDF or text – Download a searchable PDF or plain text file, depending on available settings
✅ Secure and private – OCR runs in your browser or on secure servers with strict handling
✅ No sign‑up needed – Start using OCR right away, without creating an account
✅ Works on any device – Desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone

Why use PDFLUX OCR PDF?

PDFLUX OCR PDF is essential whenever you receive a scanned document and need to search, copy, or edit its text. A normal scan is only an image. You cannot search for words, highlight text, or copy sentences. Once you run OCR, the PDF becomes far more useful in daily work.

Because PDFLUX runs in your browser, you can process PDFs at home, at the office, or while you travel. Students, lawyers, accountants, administrators, and many others can quickly turn piles of scans into searchable, digital documents.

Focus on privacy and security

OCR often handles sensitive files such as contracts or identity documents. For that reason, PDFLUX OCR PDF is designed with privacy in mind. Wherever practical, processing happens on your device using browser technology (client‑side). When OCR requires secure server processing, files are handled only for the duration of the task and are removed shortly after. We do not use your documents for advertising or sell your data.

Fast and simple workflow

Manual retyping of a document is slow and error‑prone. With PDFLUX, you just upload, pick language and output, click Start OCR, and download the result. In many cases, the conversion finishes in a short time, even for multi‑page files. As a result, you spend more time using the data and less time entering it.

Completely free to use

Professional OCR software can be expensive. However, PDFLUX OCR PDF is free for everyday use. You do not need a subscription, license key, or credit card. Instead, you can visit the page whenever you like and OCR as many PDFs as you need.

Common Use Cases

Scanned Contracts and Legal Documents

Law firms, HR teams, and freelancers often receive contracts as scans. With PDFLUX, you can:

• Turn contracts and agreements into searchable PDFs
• Copy clauses or definitions without retyping
• Search for names, amounts, or dates inside long legal documents

As a result, review and editing tasks become much faster.

Invoices, Receipts, and Financial Records

Accountants and finance teams regularly work with paper documents. Therefore, you can:

• OCR invoices and receipts for expense tracking
• Make bank statements searchable by amount or description
• Prepare tax documents that are easier to search and organize

Because of this, you can quickly find specific entries and reduce manual data entry.

Study Material and Research Papers

Students and researchers often scan book pages or printed articles. With OCR PDF, you can:

• Convert book chapters and articles into searchable study PDFs
• Copy quotes and references directly into your notes or papers
• Search for keywords across long scanned texts

Thus, study and research tasks become more efficient and less repetitive.

Forms, Letters, and Office Documents

Offices still use many paper forms and letters. In that case, you can:

• OCR completed forms to store text digitally
• Convert letters and memos into searchable archives
• Prepare old reports for reuse or update in modern tools

This way, your paper history turns into searchable digital records.

Tips for Best Results

💡 Use clear, high‑quality scans:
Good OCR starts with good images. If possible, scan at 300 DPI or higher, with straight pages and good contrast.

💡 Choose the correct language:
If the tool lets you choose a language, pick the main one in your document. This often improves recognition accuracy.

💡 Avoid photos with heavy shadows:
While phone photos can work, try to take them in good lighting, with the page flat and evenly lit. This reduces errors.

💡 Check the result and fix key parts:
After OCR, skim through the output. Correct important names, numbers, and headings if needed. Then your file will be ready for serious use.

💡 Keep the original scan:
Always store the original scanned PDF safely. Later, you can re‑run OCR with different settings or use the scan as a visual reference.

FAQ

Is it secure?

Yes. PDFLUX OCR PDF treats your documents with care. Wherever possible, processing happens inside your browser so the file stays on your device. When OCR requires server‑side processing, files are used only to complete your request and are removed soon after. In addition, we do not scan your content for ads, and we do not sell your data. The site also uses HTTPS, which helps protect your connection while you upload and download.

Can I use it on Mac?

Yes, you can use PDFLUX OCR PDF on a Mac. It also works on Windows, Linux, Chromebooks, and most phones and tablets. You only need a modern browser such as Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Therefore, you do not have to install extra OCR software.

Is OCR PDF really free?

Yes. The OCR PDF tool is fully free. You can open the page, upload your scanned PDF, run OCR, and download the result without paying or creating an account. Moreover, you can use the tool as often as you like.

Can I edit the text after OCR?

Yes. If you export to a searchable PDF, you can copy and paste text into other apps. If you export to plain text or Word (when available), you can edit the content directly in your text editor or word processor.

Does it work with handwritten text?

OCR works best with printed text. Some handwriting may be recognized, but results can vary widely. For critical handwritten content, you may still need to review and correct the text manually.

Does it support multi‑language PDFs?

In many cases, yes. If your document uses more than one language, choose the main language first. For mixed‑language pages, accuracy may be lower, so review important sections carefully.

Security & Privacy

• 🔒 Client‑side technology where possible: OCR uses in‑browser processing whenever it can.
• 🔒 Secure handling for any server processing: Files used on servers are kept only as long as needed for conversion.
• 🔒 No long‑term storage: We do not keep your documents after you finish the task.
• 🔒 No account needed: You can run OCR without sign‑up or personal details.
• 🔒 Encrypted connection: HTTPS helps protect data while it moves between your device and our site.

Browser Compatibility

PDFLUX OCR PDF works well on most modern browsers, so you can choose the one you prefer:

• ✅ Google Chrome
• ✅ Mozilla Firefox
• ✅ Apple Safari (on macOS and iOS)
• ✅ Microsoft Edge
• ✅ Other Chromium‑based browsers like Brave and Opera

If you keep your browser updated, you can use the tool without any plug‑ins or add‑ons.

Related Tools

After you run OCR on your PDF, you may also find these PDFLUX tools helpful:

• PDF to Text – Export recognized text into a plain .txt file
• PDF to Word – Turn scanned PDFs (after OCR) into editable Word documents
• Compress PDF – Reduce file size after creating a searchable PDF
• Split PDF – Separate sections before running OCR on only the pages you need
• Merge PDF – Combine several scanned PDFs, then apply OCR once

Technical Details

• Input format: Scanned or image‑based PDF files
• Output format: Searchable PDF, plain text, or other formats depending on options
• Languages: Depends on the OCR engine; choosing the right language improves accuracy
• Typical max size: Often up to around 50 MB per file, depending on your browser and device memory
• Content handling: Images are analyzed to detect characters; layout may be approximated but not always perfect

Need Help?

If you have trouble running OCR on a PDF, you can try these quick checks:

• First, make sure the PDF opens correctly and is readable as an image
• Then, confirm that the text is not already selectable (in that case, OCR may not be needed)
• Next, try a clearer scan or higher resolution if the result has many errors
• After that, update your browser to the latest version and try again

If these steps do not solve the issue, you can contact the PDFLUX support team through the support or contact page on the site.

Start using PDFLUX OCR PDF now to turn scanned PDFs into searchable, reusable text—fast, simple, and secure.