PDF to text
All the text of a PDF as plain text, scanned pages included, without uploading it.
Drop files here
or click to choose from your deviceAccepted: PDF
One file per runUp to 20 MB per file5 runs per dayRemove limits with Pro✓ Works offline
Your files stay on your device
This tool runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, nothing is stored, and you can even turn off your internet connection before you start.
Example
Worked example — PDF to text
Use the following inputs and settings.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Input | three.pdf · 3 · A4 · Page 1 / Page 2 / Page 3 |
| Output files | 1 |
| Output | three.txt |
Expected result — Output files: 1.
How it works
- Drop a PDF onto the box.
- To take only some pages, type them, such as 1-3, 5; leave it empty for the whole document.
- Select Extract text. Pages that already contain text are read directly; scanned pages are recognised, which takes longer the first time while the reader downloads.
- Copy the text, or download it as a text file.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does copying from my PDF not work, and does this?
- A scanned PDF holds pictures of pages, not text, so there is nothing to copy. This tool reads such pages with text recognition. A PDF made from a document already has its text, and that is taken exactly as it is, without recognition.
- Which languages can scanned pages be in?
- With the standard setting: Japanese (horizontal and vertical), Chinese, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Turkish. For a Korean scan, set “Language of scanned pages” to “Korean (English mixed in is fine)”.
- Does it keep the layout?
- It keeps the reading order, line by line, with blank lines between blocks. Columns, tables and fonts are not reproduced; for tables use PDF to Excel, for an editable document PDF to Word.
- Is the PDF uploaded, and what are the free limits?
- It is not uploaded: the text is read in your browser. The free plan takes one PDF of up to 20 MB per run and 5 runs a day; Pro removes those limits. On every plan, Pro included, a run reads at most 20 scanned pages.
Related tools
¶ PDF OCR Scans become text you can copy and search, without the document leaving your device. ¶ Make PDF searchable The same pages, now with text you can find and copy, made on your own device. ▣ PDF to JPG Export each page as an image you can drop into a slide, a chat or a website. ⋈ Split PDF Cut one PDF into several files by page ranges, one file per page, or parts under a size limit.