Adobe Acrobat

OCR a PDF

Drag and drop a PDF file to recognize text in it using OCR technology, creating a searchable PDF.

Join 750M+ monthly users getting more done with Acrobat.

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Make your PDFs searchable with OCR

OCR (Optical Character Recognition) transforms scanned documents into searchable, selectable text. Whether you're digitising old paper records or need to quickly extract key information from a scanned report, OCR technology simplifies finding, copying, and repurposing content within your PDFs.

By using OCR online to create a searchable PDF, you can quickly locate words, phrases and important details without manually reviewing every page. This makes scanned documents easier to navigate, manage and access when you need information fast.

How to OCR a PDF online

Follow these simple steps to apply optical character recognition (OCR) to your PDF and convert it into a searchable PDF:

Click the Select a file button above or drag and drop a PDF into the drop zone.
Acrobat automatically applies OCR technology to recognise text throughout the document.
Your PDF is automatically prepared for OCR, helping create a searchable PDF from scanned content.
Sign in to download your OCR-processed PDF or create a shareable link.

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Try our free PDF OCR tool

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High-quality character recognition

Adobe Acrobat's online OCR tool accurately recognises text in scanned PDFs, helping preserve document quality and making recognised content more reliable.

Convert PDFs into searchable text

Transform your static PDFs into dynamic documents with searchable text. Locate names, dates and important details more easily across longer files.

Extract text for accessibility

OCR enhances accessibility by converting content into a format readable by screen readers, ensuring that visually impaired users can access and navigate your documents.

No extra software to install

Access Adobe Acrobat OCR tools directly from your browser on Windows, Mac or mobile devices. No software downloads, installations or updates are required to get started.

Trusted file security and privacy

Adobe integrates robust security measures into every PDF created with Acrobat. Plus, our OCR technology uses encryption to help keep your data secure while working online.

The best OCR reader online

Adobe invented the PDF file format, so you can trust that our online PDF tools, including our OCR technology, offer the highest quality, reliability and accuracy.

Who can benefit from OCR?

OCR technology can help make scanned documents easier to search, organise and access. Here are some common ways students, professionals and everyday users can benefit from OCR.

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Students and researchers

Transform scanned textbooks , lecture notes and research materials into searchable files. Locate key information when studying for exams, assignments or university projects.

Business professionals

Convert scanned contracts, reports and invoices into searchable documents. Easily retrieve information and manage records across everyday business workflows.

Legal and medical professionals

Digitise legal files, case documents and patient records to help organise information and make important documents easier to search and reference.

Everyday users

Turn household records, receipts and important paperwork into searchable files, making it easier to locate information whenever you need it, without digging through paperwork.

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More ways to work with OCR PDFs

Explore more online PDF tools to convert, edit, organise and share documents with ease.

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Combine PDF files any time, anywhere

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Questions about making PDFs searchable? We have answers.

What is OCR?

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is a technology that converts scanned images of text into machine-readable text. This allows you to search, copy, edit, and highlight text within scanned document, giving you greater flexibility in managing and working with your documents.

How can I tell if my PDF includes scanned text?

To quickly check if a PDF contains scanned text, try selecting or highlighting the text. If you can’t, the document is likely a scanned PDF.

How do I make text searchable in a PDF?

To make text searchable in a PDF, upload your scanned PDF to the Acrobat online OCR tool. If you're looking to convert a PDF to OCR, the tool recognises the text within the document and adds a searchable text layer while preserving the original layout. Once processing is complete, sign in to download your updated PDF and search for words or phrases within the file.

Will OCR change the formatting of my PDF?

OCR is designed to recognise text while preserving the original appearance of your PDF wherever possible. The recognised text is added to the document, allowing you to search and select content more easily. Layout, images and document structure are generally maintained during the process. This helps keep scanned documents looking familiar while improving usability.

Can I recognise text in files that aren’t PDFs?

The OCR online tool only accepts PDF documents. To use OCR software on other file types like PNG, JPG, or TIFF, first convert them to PDF using Adobe’s PDF converter tool. Once your files are in PDF format, you can apply the OCR tool to make the text editable, searchable, and selectable.

Can OCR recognise handwritten documents?

Yes, OCR can recognise clear and legible handwriting in scanned PDFs. Accuracy depends on the quality of the scan and how neat the handwriting is. Documents with consistent handwriting and good contrast typically produce better results. For best performance, ensure your scanned PDF is clear and easy to read.

Can I OCR multiple PDFs at the same time?

The Acrobat online OCR tool processes one PDF at a time. If you need to apply OCR across multiple scanned documents, Adobe Acrobat Pro supports batch processing. This allows you to OCR several files in a single workflow rather than uploading them individually. It's a useful option for handling larger document collections.

Can OCR extract tables from scanned PDFs?

Yes, OCR can recognise tables and structured content within scanned PDFs. Once the text has been recognised, you can copy and use the extracted information in applications such as Microsoft Excel. Results are typically best when tables are clearly formatted and scanned at a good quality. Complex layouts may require additional review after extraction.

What language does my PDF need to be in to use OCR software?

The Acrobat OCR tool supports PDF documents in a range of languages, including English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese and more. See a full list of supported languages for our OCR technology.

How secure is my data with Adobe’s OCR tool?

Adobe takes your privacy and security seriously. Your files are encrypted during upload and processing, ensuring that your data remains protected. Additionally, files are automatically deleted from Adobe servers after processing unless you choose to save them by signing in.

Can I use the OCR tool on my phone, tablet or computer?

Yes, the Acrobat online OCR tool works across desktop and mobile devices. You can access it through a web browser on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS without installing additional software. This makes it easy to OCR PDFs whether you're working from home, in the office or on the go. Simply upload your file and start processing it online.

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