MetaCyberGuru Tools
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Scanned PDF to text

Recognize printed English text in a scanned PDF.

Or drop files here. Unencrypted PDF.

Up to 20 files, 25 MB each, 75 MB total. PDF: 50 source pages. OCR: 20 selected pages. PDF redaction: 10 source pages.

    Output settings

    Use file page numbers, starting at 1.

    80%

    1 KB = 1,000 bytes. A very small target may be impossible.

    Rectangle as percentages

    Crop keeps the rectangle. Redaction covers it with solid black.

    The tool will create a new copy. Your original stays unchanged.

    Files stay in this browser. No account required. Processing details.

    Choose files to begin.

    How to use this tool

    1. Choose a scanned PDF and limit the selection to the pages you need.
    2. Run recognition; progress updates show which page is being processed.
    3. Download the text and proofread it alongside the scan.

    When it helps

    A scanned PDF may contain only page photographs, so ordinary copy and paste finds no text. This tool renders those pages and uses optical character recognition to estimate their words. It processes pages sequentially to keep memory use manageable. A clear original scan is more useful than simply increasing resolution on a blurry file. English printed text is the supported recognition case.

    A practical example

    Select pages 2-4 of a scanned manual rather than running OCR on the cover and blank pages.

    Before you share the result

    OCR is limited to 20 selected pages per run. Tables, columns, faint scans and handwritten annotations can be misread. The result is plain text, not a formatted reproduction. Use Searchable PDF if you want to keep page images while adding a searchable text layer.

    Keep a separate copy of the source file. Check the downloaded result in the application your recipient will use, especially page order, small text and important numbers. Conversion is not a guarantee that a portal will accept a document.

    Questions about scanned pdf to text

    Can it read an ordinary digital PDF?

    It can render one, but PDF to text is faster when a valid text layer already exists.

    Is the text guaranteed correct?

    No. Proofread important details and retain the original scan.

    Are my files sent to your server?

    The processing code runs in this browser. Input files and generated results are not uploaded by the tool. Visiting the page still makes ordinary requests for site assets, and the hosting server may record those requests. Read the tool privacy explanation.

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    Questions or an incorrect result? Report a problem without sending confidential files.