Scanned documents
Recognize scanned PDFs and the limits of OCR
A scanned PDF often contains page images without a usable text layer. Rendering or extracting existing text is not OCR, and this site does not claim to recognize text that is absent from the document.
Workflow
Test what the PDF contains
Try selecting a known sentence and searching for a visible word. If both fail, the page may be image-only or have a broken or hidden text layer.
Prepare an OCR copy elsewhere if required
Deskew, orient, and retain enough resolution, then use an approved OCR system whose language, privacy, and retention rules fit the document.
Proofread against the scan
Check names, dates, totals, decimal points, tables, handwriting, page order, and low-contrast areas; keep the scan as the visual record.
Limits to understand
OCR can confuse similar characters, reorder columns, miss handwriting, invent spaces, or omit faint text. A searchable layer is not proof of accuracy, authenticity, accessibility, or legal equivalence.
Privacy mode
PDF-to-image and extraction supported here remain local. If you send a scan to a separate OCR provider, that provider's upload, training, storage, jurisdiction, and deletion policies apply.
Verify the result
Compare a sample from every layout type, search for expected and deliberately difficult terms, copy figures into plain text, and have a person verify information used for decisions or compliance.
Frequently asked questions
Why does PDF to text return nothing?
The pages may contain only pixels. Text extraction reads an existing text layer; it does not recognize letters inside an image.
Does converting a scan to JPG help OCR?
It can provide a compatible input, but unnecessary downscaling or compression can make recognition worse. Preserve a high-quality source.