Guide Aug 23, 2026

Make a scanned PDF searchable with OCR

People searching for “convert to searchable pdf” can use this PdfPeaks guide.

Use the free tool now — skip the reading if you already know what you need.

Make PDF Searchable

People searching for “convert to searchable pdf” usually need Make PDF Searchable. This guide maps that search to a free browser tool.

If you cannot select text in a PDF, it is probably a scan. OCR recognizes the letters and writes a hidden text layer so you can search and copy.

What this covers

Explain when a PDF is image-only, how OCR adds a text layer, and link to Make PDF Searchable. Cover privacy, accuracy, and a short FAQ.

Open Make PDF Searchable.
Upload the file (or photo) from your device. Processing stays on a short-lived server path.
Download the result and delete the original from shared folders if it contains personal data.