OCR PDF: Make Scanned PDFs Searchable
Turn an image-only scan into the same-looking PDF with a searchable text layer. Keep the original page image, add OCR text behind it, and download a PDF that works with search.
or drop a file here · free, no signup, files deleted automatically
How to OCR a PDF
- Upload your scanned or image-only PDF.
- Choose OCR PDF. English OCR is available in this free tool.
- Download the searchable PDF. Your upload is deleted automatically.
Why use Forge Files?
- Searchable output: keep the original scan visuals while adding invisible OCR text for search and copy.
- Built for scanned documents: use this when you need a searchable PDF, and use PDF to Text when you want a .txt export.
- Private by design: files are deleted after processing, and the source is open.
Add search to scanned PDFs
OCR PDF keeps the scanned page image and adds an invisible text layer behind it. That means the file still looks like the original scan, but PDF viewers can search for names, invoice numbers, dates, and phrases. Use it for scanned applications, college documents, bank paperwork, and receipts where a plain text export would lose too much context.
PDF output, not a text dump
Use PDF to Text when you want a .txt
file. Use OCR PDF when the job is “make this PDF searchable” and the output
should still be a PDF.
Is the OCR PDF tool private?
Yes. Your file is uploaded over encrypted HTTPS, processed, handed back, and then deleted — the upload goes the moment the OCR PDF operation finishes and the result the instant you download it, with an hourly sweeper as a backstop. Unlike closed tools that just claim they don't keep your files, Forge Files's code is fully open source, so you can verify exactly how the OCR PDF tool handles your data — or self-host it. No account, no watermark, no upsell. See our privacy details for the full picture.
Frequently asked questions
Does OCR PDF change how my scan looks?
No, the page image stays in place. Forge Files adds an invisible text layer so PDF viewers can search the words.
Which languages are supported?
The free OCR PDF tool is English-only today. Indic language OCR is planned as a premium expansion.
What is the difference from PDF to Text?
OCR PDF returns a PDF with a searchable layer. PDF to Text returns a plain .txt file.
More free tools
OCR PDF · PDF to Text · PDF to Word · Compress PDF · Split PDF