Make a scanned PDF searchable

Before you begin

Keep the original document somewhere safe. PDF Studio processes document files in your browser and does not add a watermark. Browser storage is not a backup: download important results before closing the tab. For a large file, start on a device with enough memory and use a small sample to confirm the settings.

Follow these steps

1. Open Make a PDF searchable and choose your scanned document.
2. Select supported recognition language and pages. The model downloads when it is needed.
3. Run recognition, review names and numbers, and export the searchable PDF.

Check the result

Search for a known phrase and compare the recognized text against the scan. Check identifiers, dates and amounts manually.

Use the result preview to catch visible problems, then reopen the downloaded file in the reader or application where you plan to use it. A completed processing action only means an output was produced; it does not prove that the document meets every requirement of a job portal, recipient or printer.

Know the limitations

OCR can misread characters. A searchable text layer does not guarantee that the original visible scan can be edited in place.

Privacy and saved files

Choosing a file does not upload its contents for processing. Saved drafts, signatures, recipes and My files belong to this browser profile on this device. Delete local copies when using a shared computer. Optional site analytics count usage without including document contents or filenames. Some fonts, libraries and OCR models need an internet connection; installing the app does not guarantee offline operation.

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