Free OCR PDF (Make Scanned PDF Searchable) Tool
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About the OCR PDF
Turn a scanned PDF into a searchable one — OCR reads the text on each page and adds a hidden text layer so you can select, copy and search it, all in your browser with no upload.
How to use the OCR PDF
- 1Add a scanned PDF — drop it in or click to browse.
- 2Click Make searchable PDF and wait while each page is read (a progress bar shows how it's going).
- 3Download the result — it looks the same, but the text is now selectable and searchable.
Frequently asked questions
Is this OCR PDF tool free?
Yes — completely free with no sign-up and no watermark on the result.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. The text recognition runs entirely in your browser — the PDF never leaves your device. (The OCR engine itself is downloaded to your browser the first time you use it.)
What does this actually do to my PDF?
It reads the text in your scanned pages and adds an invisible text layer on top of the original images. The pages look identical, but you can now select, copy and search the text.
Which languages are supported?
English (Latin script). Text that isn't in the standard Latin character set may not be captured in the searchable layer.
Why is it slow on big PDFs?
OCR is genuinely heavy work and it all runs on your own device, one page at a time. Larger or higher-resolution scans take longer — the progress bar shows where it's up to.
The text is already selectable in my PDF — do I need this?
No. This tool is for scanned or photographed PDFs with no text layer. If you can already select the text, use the PDF to Text tool instead.