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OCR PDF

PDF OCR Converter — Make PDF Searchable

PDF to PDF with OCR — add a text layer so scanned files become searchable, copyable, and indexable

OCR included — free on this tool
Drop scanned PDF here

or select a file from your device

Supported: .pdf

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OCR adds a searchable text layer when the scan is readable. If OCR cannot read the page, you will see an error — we will not pretend the file became searchable. Up to 30 scanned pages are read per job.

Searchable PDF Ready

Your searchable PDF is ready to download.

Download PDF
Creating searchable PDF...
Searchable PDF Notes
Best for scanned documents, paper forms, and image-based PDFs.
Searchable output helps with copy/paste, indexing, and accessibility.
Urdu and Arabic text is stored with a font that can hold those letters. Handwriting is not supported.
Text accuracy depends on scan quality and source clarity.

Guide

PDF OCR Converter Online Free — PDF to PDF with OCR

Need a PDF to PDF OCR converter? Scanned PDFs look like text but cannot be searched or copied until they have an OCR text layer. PdfPeaks Make PDF Searchable is a free online OCR tool that adds a hidden text layer aligned to each page so you can find words, copy paragraphs, and index archives — without desktop OCR software. Scanned PDFs are pictures until OCR adds a text layer. Use this tool, then read the searchable-PDF guide.

How It Works

Upload

Add a scanned or image-only PDF (clear, straight pages work best).

OCR

Processing builds a text layer under the scan for each page.

Download

Open the searchable PDF and search, select, or copy text.

Security & Privacy

Files are encrypted in transit and deleted after processing — see our Privacy Policy for details.

Common Use Cases

  • Research & archives: Find keywords across scanned books and reports.
  • Compliance: Make image-only filings selectable for review.
  • Accessibility: Improve copy/paste and assistive-tech access to scans.
  • Conversion prep: OCR before PDF to Word or Translate PDF.
  • Invoice batches: Search vendor names across multi-page scan packs.

Tips for Best Results

Scan at 300 DPI or higher with even lighting for best accuracy. Already have selectable text? The tool preserves it. Need plain text export? Use Extract Text. Compress after OCR, not before. Full walkthrough: make a scanned PDF searchable with OCR. Supported format: PDF (.pdf).

Related guides

Browse all PDF & image guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. It is a free online PDF OCR tool: upload a scanned PDF and download a PDF to PDF with OCR — a searchable text layer under the same pages.

If you cannot search, highlight, or copy the words, the file is a picture of pages. Run this OCR tool to add a hidden text layer — that is what most “readable PDF” searches mean. If the scan is just blurry, recapture it first; compression will not restore missing text.

No. Appearance stays the same; an invisible text layer is added for search, copy, and later Word/Excel conversion.

Urdu + English is the default and the right choice for CNIC, Urdu letters, and mixed Pakistani scans. Choose English only for Latin-only pages. Handwriting is not supported.

Scan at 300 DPI or higher, even lighting, straight pages. The tool straightens a small tilt before reading. Very skewed phone photos should be recaptured.

We show an error instead of returning an unchanged file. Increase contrast, drop blurry pages, or run Repair PDF if the file is damaged.

Existing text is preserved. OCR helps most on image-only pages; mixed files still benefit on the scanned sheets.

Yes within normal size limits. Files are encrypted in transit and deleted after processing. See the Privacy Policy for details.

Use the free Make PDF Searchable tool at /pdf/makesearchable. 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.

Use the free Make PDF Searchable tool at /pdf/makesearchable. 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.

Use the free Make PDF Searchable tool at /pdf/makesearchable. 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.

Use the free Make PDF Searchable tool at /pdf/makesearchable. 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.

Use the free Make PDF Searchable tool at /pdf/makesearchable. 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.

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