Acrobat
How to copy text from a PDF document.
Whether you’re dealing with scanned images, PDFs, or protected files, learn how to extract text efficiently and streamline your workflow.
Published by Adobe Acrobat India on 22 August 2024
Modified: 29 October 2025
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How to copy and paste text from PDF
How to copy text from a PDF using a PDF editor online
How to copy text from scanned PDF documents and images using the OCR PDF tool
How to copy text from a protected PDF
How to copy text from PDF OCR to Word converter
Why you are unable to copy text from a PDF.
If you are unable to copy text from a PDF or cannot copy text from a PDF, it is usually due to one of three common reasons:
- Scanned images
If a PDF was created by scanning a physical document, the text is stored as an image rather than editable characters. To copy text from a scanned PDF, you need a tool with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) — such as Adobe Acrobat — which can detect the text in the image and convert it into editable, searchable content. - Password protection
Some PDFs are locked with a password to prevent actions like copying, printing, or editing. If you have the correct password, you can unlock the PDF in Adobe Acrobat and then copy the text. - Copy restrictions
Even without a password or scan, the document creator can apply restrictions that block copying. This is often done to protect sensitive or copyrighted information. In these cases, you can use OCR tools to extract the text.
By understanding why you are unable to copy text from your PDF, you can choose the right method to extract your content — whether that is a simple copy-and-paste or using OCR.
How to copy and paste text from PDF.
Copying text from a PDF is common. You might need to copy your PAN card number from a scanned document for KYC verification, pull bank transaction details from a PDF statement for a loan application, or extract GST invoice information for filing returns. Whether it is for academic research, content creation, legal purposes, or personal reference, you can often copy text manually from simple, well-structured PDFs.
Let us explore how to copy text in PDF documents using the following:
- Adobe Acrobat desktop application
- Microsoft Word, and
- Google Documents
How to copy text in PDF documents using Adobe Acrobat desktop application.
- Launch the Adobe Acrobat desktop app.
- Open the PDF file containing the text you want to copy.
- Navigate to the ‘Select Tool’ option in the toolbar and click on it to activate the text selection mode.
- Click and drag your cursor to select the desired text passage within the PDF, even across multiple pages if needed. Then right-click within the selection, choose ‘copy’ from the Edit menu, and your text will be copied.
- Now, you can paste this information into your desired document.
How to copy text in PDF document using Microsoft Word.
While Microsoft is not the ideal solution for every PDF, it can be a handy tool for copying text from simple, well-structured PDFs. Here is how to copy PDF text using Microsoft Word:
- Open the Word application on your desktop.
- Navigate to the ‘File’ option and select ‘Open’. In the file explorer window, browse your target PDF document and click ‘Open’.
- Word will attempt to convert the PDF into an editable Word document. Depending on the complexity of the PDF, this process may take a few minutes.
- If the conversion is successful, you can see the PDF content within the Word document. Using the manual copy-paste method, you can freely highlight and copy any text you need.
How to copy text in PDF files using Google Documents.
Google Documents offers a convenient way to extract text from PDFs, even scanned ones. Here is how to copy PDF text using Google Docs:
- Head over to your Google Drive and upload the PDF document from which you want to copy the text.
- Right-click on the uploaded PDF file and select the ‘open with’ option.
- Google Docs will import the PDF content into a new Google Document.
- Once the conversion is completed, you can see the extracted text within the Google Document.
How to copy text from a PDF using a PDF editor online.
Need to copy some text from a PDF but don't have any software installed? Adobe Acrobat's online PDF editor can help. Here is how you can copy text from PDFs online:
- Open your web browser and search for an online PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat.
- Upload your PDF files or drag and drop them in the designated drop zone.
- After Acrobat uploads the file, sign in to proceed.
- You can now copy text as desired or add comments, sticky notes, and highlight sections.
- Once you are done editing, download the annotated file or share it with anyone through a link.
How to copy text from scanned PDF documents and images using the OCR PDF tool.
Sometimes, a PDF is actually just an image. For example, it could be a scanned PAN card, Aadhaar card, bank statement, or property registration document. In such cases, the text cannot be highlighted or copied directly because it is stored as an image rather than editable text. Adobe Acrobat Online includes Optical Character Recognition (OCR), a built-in tool that converts scanned or image-based PDFs into searchable, editable documents. This allows you to quickly extract important details for KYC verification, loan applications, or tax filings. Learn how to copy text from a PDF image using the Acrobat OCR PDF tool online:
How to copy text from a PDF image.
Step 1: Launch Adobe Acrobat online services and open the image-only PDF you want to convert.
Step 2: Access the ‘OCR PDF’ tool under ‘Convert’.
Step 3: Select the PDF and wait for Acrobat to upload it.
Step 4: Once done, Adobe will automatically recognise the text within, which you can now copy.
Step 5: Sign in to download your newly converted file or perform other editing functions using Acrobat.
How to copy text from a protected PDF.
Protected PDFs often have restrictions that prevent copying, printing, or editing. This is common for sensitive or official documents, such as a Form 26AS tax statement, a bank fixed deposit receipt, or a property registration document. If you need to copy text from a protected PDF, you will first need to unlock it using the correct password or permissions. Once unlocked, you can use Adobe Acrobat to copy the required details quickly and accurately.
To access the text within the PDF:
- Launch the Adobe Acrobat application and open the password-protected PDF document.
- Navigate to the file menu on the top toolbar and click on ‘Properties’.
- Now click on the security tab.
- Use the provided dropdown menu and select ‘No Security’
- A prompt will appear requesting the password.
- Enter the correct password and click ‘OK’ to confirm the password.
- Finally, save the document to make the changes.
By removing the password, you can highlight and copy the desired text.
How to copy text using the PDF to Word converter.
Copying text from a PDF is simple when you convert the PDF file to a Word document. Here is how to do it using Adobe Acrobat:
- Again, go to Acrobat online on your browser and navigate to the PDF to Word converter page.
- Upload your PDF file and sign in to continue.
- Acrobat will convert your file to an editable DOCX file.
- Now you can download this Word document and continue selecting the text.
How to copy text from PDF: Your complete toolkit.
This guide has shown you how to copy text from a PDF, whether you are working with a simple document or a scanned file. With the right approach, you can extract the content you need while keeping formatting intact.
- Simple PDFs – Use Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word, or Google Docs for quick and straightforward text copying.
- Scanned PDFs or Image-based PDFs – Use Adobe Acrobat’s OCR technology to turn images into searchable, editable text in just a few clicks.
- Protected PDFs – Unlock with the correct password in Adobe Acrobat, or use OCR tools if copying is restricted.
No matter the type of PDF, you now have the tools to copy text accurately, efficiently, and with confidence.
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