Make a PDF searchable: guide
Open Make a PDF searchableRecognize text in scanned pages
Choose a supported language and add an invisible searchable text layer to scanned PDF pages.
How it works
- Open a scanned PDF with legible text in a supported language.
- Run recognition. The first use downloads a recognition model, so an internet connection is needed for that download.
- Export the searchable PDF and check names, dates and numbers by searching or copying text.
The first run downloads a recognition model. Accuracy varies; review names, numbers and important text. Choose English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese. Unsupported searchable characters are reported in the export result.
When to use this tool
Make scanned notes or documents searchable. Recognition adds an invisible text layer to rendered pages.
What to check before sharing
Recognition accuracy depends on scan quality. English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese are selectable. OCR does not recreate a Word document or make image text directly editable.
Supported files
English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese models download on demand. Accuracy varies; unsupported searchable characters are reported.
Inputs: PDF. Performance depends on your device. Download important work before closing the browser; local storage is not a backup.
Troubleshooting
If the file will not open, check it in another PDF reader. If it is password-protected, use Remove a PDF password with a password you know. For scans that need selectable text, run Make a PDF searchable first.
Common questions
Does OCR upload my PDF?
Recognition runs in the browser; model assets are downloaded separately.
Are other languages supported?
Choose English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese. Indian scripts and arbitrary Unicode embedding are not yet supported. Review the result.
Which files can I use?
Supported inputs: PDF. English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese models download on demand. Accuracy varies; unsupported searchable characters are reported.
Is this free?
Core tools require no account or subscription and add no watermark.
Do my documents leave my device?
Document processing runs in your browser. PDF Studio does not upload document files. Explicitly saved drafts and My files remain in this browser until deleted. Read aloud may use network-backed browser voices.