OCR a Scanned PDF
Direct answer
Scans become searchable on your own device: a local Tesseract engine reads each page and an invisible text layer is added — with a plain-text copy to proofread.
Your file never leaves this tab. No upload, no account, no signup, no email, no watermark — download the result the moment it's ready.
Verify it in 30 seconds- Input
- 25 MB · 20 pagesone PDF per run
- Engine
- Tesseract WASMdownloaded once, then cached
- Output
- Text layer + .txt
- Upload
- Nonescans stay in tab
OCR runs locally; unlock it with a BytesPDF Pro subscription.
More ways to work
Choose another PDF task
Related tools from the BytesPDF directory.
Files are not transferred between tools. Select the document again on the next page; it is processed locally in your browser.
Honest limits
What OCR a Scan Does — and What It Refuses
The documents this tool will not touch, and the ten-second checks to run before you send the result.
Works on
What this tool handles reliably.
- Adds an invisible text layer at each word's position, so the scan becomes searchable.
- Exports a plain-text copy alongside the searchable PDF.
- Runs entirely on your device, which matters for identity and medical scans.
Refuses on purpose
Not bugs — decisions we made and will state.
- More than 20 pages per run — split a long document into chunks.
- Handwriting, and poor or skewed scans. Accuracy falls away quickly.
- To be instant: OCR is CPU-heavy, so keep the tab focused while it works.
Check afterwards
The ten seconds we ask you to spend.
- Search for a few words you can see on the page, then check the numbers and names.
- Read the plain-text output — digits and codes are the usual casualties.
- Confirm the visible page still renders exactly as the original scan did.
Written for OCR a Scan specifically. If your file is on the refuses list, the page you need is the tool that handles it — not this one with the limits removed.
Step by step
How to OCR a Scanned PDF in 3 Easy Steps
Browser-local document processing with no application installation required.
Drop the Scan
PDFs up to 25 MB and 20 pages per run. First use downloads the engine and language data from this site, then it's cached.
Local Recognition
Each page is rendered and read by Tesseract on your device, with per-page progress and preview.
Proofread & Download
Check the recognised text per page, then take the searchable PDF and the plain-text copy.
Capabilities
Why Use Our OCR a Scanned PDF Tool?
Current capabilities and limitations, described without universal quality or speed promises.
Searchable Output
Each recognised word is written invisibly into the PDF at its real position — search and select work like any text PDF.
Runs on Your Device
The Tesseract engine (WebAssembly) and English language data are served from this site and execute in this tab. Passports and client records stay put.
Plain-Text Copy Too
Every page's recognised text, ready to copy, quote or archive — as a .txt alongside the searchable PDF.
Proofread the Recognition
Clean, straight printed pages usually work better than handwriting, skew, fading or low-resolution scans. Review each page before relying on the text.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Get clear answers about data flow, formatting, integrity, and usage limits.
How do I make a scanned PDF searchable?
How is BytesPDF OCR priced?
Can OCR copy text from a scanned PDF?
Which languages does the OCR support?
How accurate is local OCR?
Why does the first run download something?
Is OCR really private here?
What file and page limits apply?
Side by side
How BytesPDF Compares to Other OCR a Scan Tools
Most online PDF services process documents on remote servers. Here is how BytesPDF compares on data location, usage limits, and workflow fit.
iLovePDF Web
When to choose them: You need a tool BytesPDF does not have, or a single site that covers every document job.
When to choose BytesPDF: You want the PDF to stay in the browser tab while it is compressed or merged.
Server-based PDF tools
When to choose them: The job needs heavy OCR, large batches, collaboration, storage, or files bigger than a browser can hold.
When to choose BytesPDF: The operation you need runs locally, and keeping the document off a server matters.
Where your file goes
Others: Uploaded to remote cloud servers, processed there, and held during their retention window.
BytesPDF: Read and rewritten in this browser tab. 0 bytes are ever sent to BytesPDF servers.
Usage limits & quotas
Others: Daily task caps (Smallpdf: 2 tasks/day), processing queues, or subscription paywalls.
BytesPDF: No daily task quota, no account and no signup. Published file and device limits apply. Pro gates apply only to specialist workflows such as target-size compression, batch jobs, OCR and signatures.
What limits you
Others: The provider's commercial limits, upload caps, and subscription tiers.
BytesPDF: Your own device memory, published up front: 150 MB desktop, 50 MB mobile.
Platform & setup
Others: Web upload roundtrip or an OS-specific installer (e.g. PDF24 Creator on Windows).
BytesPDF: Runs in any modern browser on Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook, iPhone, and Android.
Directory
PDF Tool Directory
Browse free core tools and Pro workflows for compression, merging, OCR, signatures and more. PDF content stays in your browser.
Choose your next PDF task.
Selected PDF content for supported workflows is processed in your browser and is not uploaded to BytesPDF servers.
No account · No signup · No watermark · No PDF upload