PDF to Text
Extract selectable text from selected PDF pages and download a plain text file. Your PDF stays on this device.
Extracts selectable text. Scanned pages need OCR using PDF to Images, then Image to Text.
About PDF to Text
This tool pulls the selectable text out of a PDF so you can copy it, search it or reuse it elsewhere. Choose a file, optionally enter the pages to read, such as 1, 3-5, or leave the box empty to read all of them, and the text appears in an editable box that you can download as a plain .txt file in UTF-8. Page separators are added between pages. It reads text that is already embedded in the PDF and does not perform OCR. A scanned document is just pictures of pages, so those pages have no text to extract; the tool lists the pages that returned nothing. For scans, export the pages as images with the PDF to Images tool and run them through Image to Text. The output is plain text only: images, styling, annotations and embedded files are left out, and the order follows the order the PDF stores its text, which can differ from the visual reading order in columns, tables or unusual fonts. Limits are 20 MB, 100 pages and 2 million extracted characters, and the PDF must be unencrypted. Reading stops after 3 minutes, so pick fewer pages for very large files. Processing is local in your browser.
How to use PDF to Text
- Click the upload area and choose a PDF (up to 20 MB and 100 pages).
- In Pages to read, type a range such as 1, 3-5, or leave it blank for all pages.
- Click Extract text and wait for the status message to finish. Use Cancel to stop.
- Review or edit the Extracted text box, then click Download text.
Frequently Asked Questions
The pages are probably scans or drawings with no text layer. The tool only reads existing selectable text and names the pages where none was found. For scans, convert pages to images and use an image to text tool.
No. You get plain text in the order the PDF stores it, which can differ from how the page reads visually, especially in columns and tables. Page separators are added. Check the result before using it.
Yes. Enter pages in the Pages to read field, for example 1, 3-5. Leaving it blank reads all pages. Choosing fewer pages also helps with large files, since there is a 100 page, 2 million character and 3 minute limit.
No. The file is read in your browser and the text stays on your device. You can edit it in the box before downloading it as a .txt file.
Encrypted PDFs are not supported. Remove the protection in the program that created the file, or save an unprotected copy, and try again with a file under 20 MB.