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PL ToolsTools for a Smarter You

OCR PDF

Make scanned PDFs searchable & copyable

Your files are processed locally in your browser and never uploaded to our servers.

How to use OCR PDF

  1. 1

    Add your file

    Drag & drop, tap to browse, or paste from your clipboard.

  2. 2

    Choose your options

    Adjust the settings for exactly what you need.

  3. 3

    Download the result

    Ready instantly — no watermark, no waiting in a queue.

Supported formats

Input
Scanned or image-only PDF
Output
The same PDF with an invisible, searchable text layer, plus a .txt of the text

Frequently asked questions

Is OCR PDF free?

Yes — completely free, with no signup and no watermarks. PL Tools is supported by a small number of non-intrusive ads.

Are my files uploaded anywhere?

No. OCR PDF runs entirely in your browser, so your files never leave your device and are never sent to our servers.

Is there a file size limit?

Nothing is uploaded, so there's no upload limit — but very large files depend on your device's memory. Files up to about 100 MB work well on most computers; phones may struggle with much larger ones.

Will my PDF look different?

No. The original pages are kept exactly as they are — the tool adds an invisible text layer on top, so you can search, select and copy the words.

How do I know it worked?

After building the file, the tool opens it again and checks that the recognised words can be read from each OCR'd page. If no text is found, it tells you instead of giving you a file that isn't searchable.

Does anything get downloaded?

The first time, your browser downloads the OCR engine (about 4 MB) and each language you pick (1–3 MB) from the jsDelivr CDN, then keeps them cached. Only those program files are downloaded — your images and PDFs are read on your device and never uploaded.

How long does it take?

A few seconds per page on a laptop, a little longer on phones. Pages that already have selectable text are skipped unless you untick that option.

Which formats are supported?

Input: Scanned or image-only PDF. Output: The same PDF with an invisible, searchable text layer, plus a .txt of the text.

Does it work on my phone?

Yes. PL Tools works in any modern browser on iPhone, Android, tablets and desktop — there's nothing to install.