How to oCR PDF
- Add a scanned PDF.
- Choose the document’s language.
- Select Make searchable and download. The new file looks the same but its text can be searched and copied.
Questions
How accurate is it?
On clean, straight scans of printed text it’s usually very good. Handwriting, faint or skewed scans, and unusual fonts produce more mistakes. The original image stays visible, so mistakes only affect searching and copying.
My pages are sideways. Will that work?
Text needs to be upright to be recognised. Straighten sideways pages first with Rotate PDF, then run OCR.
Why is it slower than other sites?
Other sites send your scan to their servers. Here, your own device does the recognition, so your document stays private. Expect a few seconds per page.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. UserPDF runs entirely in your web browser. Your files are read and processed on your own device and are never sent to us or anyone else. You can even disconnect from the internet after the page loads and the tools keep working.
Is it free?
Yes. UserPDF is free to use with no sign-up and no watermark on your files. It’s supported by ads.