Searchable PDF
Help your scans find their words.
How to make a scanned PDF searchable
A scanned PDF is only pictures of pages, so you cannot search, select or copy its words. This tool runs OCR and adds an invisible text layer over the original page images, so the document looks the same but becomes searchable. It can also straighten skewed scans and fix page rotation.
Also known as: OCR PDF, scanned PDF to text, Hindi OCR PDF · हिंदी में: सर्च करने योग्य PDF
Choose a scanned PDF up to 20 MB and 50 pages.
Choose English, Hindi or both, and keep deskew and page rotation on.
Run OCR on the secure server.
Download the searchable PDF and try Ctrl + F.
Getting the best result
Choose your file and adjust the options before converting. Adds a searchable text layer while keeping page images. Digital signatures cannot be preserved.
Good to know
Adds a searchable text layer while keeping page images. Digital signatures cannot be preserved.
Searchable PDF: frequently asked questions
Quick answers before you start.
More OCR toolsWill my PDF look different after OCR?+
No. The original page images are kept and the text layer is invisible. Digital signatures cannot be preserved, so keep the signed original.
How many pages can I OCR at once?+
Up to 50 pages per file. Split larger documents and process them in parts.
Is Searchable PDF free?+
Yes. It is completely free, with no signup, no subscription and no watermark on your files.
Are my files uploaded to a server?+
Only for the conversion. Searchable PDF uploads your file to an isolated conversion server, but nothing is stored: the original is deleted when conversion ends, and the result as soon as your browser has it (within 2 minutes at most).