OCR PDF — Make Scanned PDFs Searchable Online Free
Recognize text inside scanned documents and create searchable, copyable PDFs.
OCR PDF workspace
or drag and drop your PDF here
Files are processed securely in your browser and are never uploaded to our servers.
How to use OCR PDF
Just 3 simple steps to reduce your PDF file size quickly.
- 01→
Select your PDF
Upload the scanned PDF.
- 02→
Choose compression
Select your document language (English, Spanish, German, etc.).
- 03
Download instantly
Run OCR and download your searchable PDF with selectable text.
Why use MyPDF4U for OCR PDF?
No account, no software installation, and no waiting queues. Every tool opens directly to the upload area with zero watermarks and no file count restrictions. Your files are processed locally in client memory, keeping your documents confidential while delivering instant results.
Windows, Mac & Linux
Works in Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox with no software download.
iPhone & Android
Mobile-first design lets you process files directly from photo galleries and Files.
Permanent Metadata
Rotations are written directly into the PDF specification, so it stays fixed forever.
100% Private & Free
Zero server uploads, no subscription walls, and no added watermarks.
Key features
Searchable and selectable text
Invisible recognized text overlay allows Ctrl+F search and copy-pasting.
Private local OCR recognition
Tesseract OCR engine runs client-side inside your browser tab.
7 European languages supported
Accurate character recognition in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Dutch.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a scanned PDF searchable for free?
Upload your scanned PDF to MyPDF4U's OCR PDF tool, choose your language, and click Run OCR. It overlays a recognized text layer.
Can I copy text from a scanned PDF after OCR?
Yes. OCR generates selectable text so you can highlight, copy, and paste words into Word or email.
Good to know
Scanned documents are pictures of paper with no underlying text data. OCR identifies character shapes and builds a text index directly over the page image.