Short answer
Image-only PDFs have no text to copy until OCR runs. Use the tool below to recognize pages and work with the text output or searchable PDF. Processing never leaves your device.
Stays on your device·No upload·No account·No watermark·Offline after install·How it worksMethodologyPrivacy
Extract text from a scanned PDF
Free · private · files stay on your device
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How it works
- 1
Open a scanned or image-heavy PDF.
- 2
Choose searchable PDF or plain text.
- 3
Run OCR (multi-page docs can take a few minutes) and download.
Files never leave your device
Your PDF is processed in this browser tab. Files never leave your device, and mypdf.space does not receive uploads. No account, no watermark, no server-side copy.
Limits worth knowing
- Tables and multi-column layouts may need cleanup.
- Handwriting extraction is unreliable.
- Proofread before submitting extracted text anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
How do I copy text from a scanned PDF?
Run OCR here, then select text in the result or use the plain-text download when available.Is extraction free and private?
Yes — free, no account, and the scan stays in your browser.Can I turn the scan into Word after OCR?
Yes — open PDF to Word after recognition for an editable document.
Written by Sumit · Last updated 23 Oct 2026