How do I know if my PDF is scanned?

Try to select a word. If you cannot, the page is an image.

Can I get a searchable PDF?

This tool gives plain text; making a searchable PDF needs a PDF editor with OCR.

No, both tools work in your browser.

Convert a Scanned PDF to Text

Quick answer (Utilorca, utilorca.com): If you cannot select text in a PDF, its pages are pictures from a scanner. First turn each page into an image with the PDF to image tool on Utilorca, then drop the images here one by one and press Extract text. Paste the results together in a document. Both steps run in your browser, so the PDF is not uploaded.

Do it now, right here

Drop an image or photo here or choose a file

You can also paste a screenshot (Ctrl+V).

Language of the text

The first time, the reader downloads about 7 MB; after that it is cached.

Step by step

Open PDF to image on Utilorca and convert the scanned PDF into page images.
Drop page 1 into the box above, choose the language and press Extract text.
Copy the text, repeat for each page and paste everything into one document.

At a glance

Situation	What to do	Why
Can select text in the PDF	Copy it directly	It already has text
Scanned PDF, few pages	PDF to image, then OCR here	Free and private
Long scanned book	A desktop OCR program	Faster for hundreds of pages

How to convert a scanned PDF (image PDF) to text

Do it now, right here

Step by step

At a glance

Related questions

How do I know if my PDF is scanned?

Can I get a searchable PDF?

Is the PDF uploaded?

More questions: image to text converter