Privacy-first document tools
OCR PDF online
Run OCR on PDF files online and extract text from scanned documents or image-based PDFs with privacy-first AI tools from LeafDeck.
What this tool does
OCR PDF extracts text from scanned PDFs and image-based documents. It is useful when text is visible but not selectable, searchable, or reusable, such as scans, photographed pages, receipts, forms, and old archived files.
- Extract text from scanned PDFs
- Turn image-based text into usable content
- Make files easier to search and reuse
How to use this tool
Choose a compatible source file
Open OCR PDF and select the file format described by the upload area. Keep the original until the new file has been checked.
Run OCR PDF
Make scanned PDFs searchable. Review any available settings before processing so the output matches the way you plan to use it.
Download and compare
Open the result and compare page count, orientation, text, images, dimensions, and formatting with the source before sharing it.
When OCR PDF is useful
Everyday document work
OCR PDF extracts text from scanned PDFs and image-based documents. It is useful when text is visible but not selectable, searchable, or reusable, such as scans, photographed pages, receipts, forms, and old archived files.
Compatibility and sharing
Use OCR PDF when the source format is inconvenient for the recipient, upload portal, device, or next step in your workflow.
Create a separate working copy
The downloaded result is a new file, so the original remains available as a reference while you inspect the conversion or edit.
Review the OCR PDF output
A successful OCR PDF operation should solve the format or document task without hiding important information. Open the downloaded file rather than relying only on its filename or file size.
Check small text, images, page order, orientation, transparency, links, forms, annotations, and uncommon fonts whenever those features matter. Keep the source file until the result has passed that review.
Frequently asked questions
What is OCR in a PDF tool?
OCR stands for Optical Character Recognition. It detects text inside scanned or image-based documents and converts it into usable text.
Can OCR read scanned PDFs?
Yes. OCR is specifically designed for scanned PDFs or documents where the text is not already selectable.
Why would I run OCR on a PDF?
OCR helps when you need to copy text, search inside scanned files, or reuse content from image-based documents.