Question 1

What is OCR?

Accepted Answer

OCR stands for Optical Character Recognition. It's a technology that identifies text within scanned images or PDF documents and converts it into readable, editable digital text. This tool makes previously non-searchable PDFs fully searchable, improves accessibility for screen readers, and allows you to extract specific information from scanned files.

Question 2

How to OCR a PDF?

Accepted Answer

Upload your scanned PDF to PDFFly's free OCR PDF tool. Our optical character recognition software automatically detects and extracts text from images within seconds. Once processing completes, download your searchable document. The best part? You can edit the surrounding text immediately in any PDF editor.

Question 3

Can I edit the text after OCR is applied?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. After using our PDF to OCR converter, all recognized text becomes fully editable. You can modify, copy, or reformat the content just like any standard digital document. The OCR process transforms static images into dynamic text that works with any editing software, including Microsoft Word. You can also use our PDF to Word converter to export the result as an editable Word file.

Question 4

Can OCR work on multi-page PDFs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our OCR PDF tool processes multi-page documents efficiently. Upload your entire scanned file, and the platform will apply optical character recognition to every page. Whether you have 10 pages or 100, the technology extracts text from each one while maintaining the document's structure. File size limit is 100 MB per upload.

Question 5

Can I convert images to text without downloading software?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Our free online OCR tool works directly in your browser. You don't need to download or install any software. Simply upload your image file and use our text recognition for free to convert images into readable text instantly. The output file is ready for immediate download.

Question 6

Does your tool recognize handwritten text?

Accepted Answer

While our OCR software excels at recognizing printed text in documents, handwritten text presents unique challenges. The technology works best with clear, typed content and can convert text from scanned pages with high accuracy. For handwritten materials, results may vary depending on legibility. We recommend using scanned documents with standard fonts for optimal conversion.

Question 7

Does OCR on PDF documents work for any language and devices?

Accepted Answer

Our PDF OCR online tool supports 195 languages and works seamlessly across all devices. Whether you're on a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, you can make PDF searchable from anywhere. Our advanced OCR tool works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, or iPhone, and any other device or OS as long as you have an internet connection. The recognition technology automatically adapts to different scripts and character sets.

Question 8

Does OCR preserve formatting?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our OCR converter maintains your document's original formatting. The software recognizes layouts, columns, tables, and visual elements while extracting PDF text. Your converted PDF will look nearly identical to the original while gaining full searchability and editability.

OCR PDF

How to OCR a PDF document

Upload your document

Automatic text recognition

Download your searchable PDF

More PDF tools you might need

Why choose our PDF OCR tool

Easy text editing

Lightning-fast processing

Professional-looking results

Works on any device

Preserves original quality

Supports 195 languages

Frequently asked questions