To extract text from a PDF, drop the file in and click Extract Text. You can copy the text or save it as a TXT file. It reads the real text inside the PDF, so it works on text-based files but not on scans, because there is no OCR.
When do you need the text out of a PDF?
- Copying a long passage without fighting with the selection cursor.
- Pasting a contract, article, or report into a document or email.
- Searching or editing the words in a plain text editor.
- Feeding the text of a report into a spreadsheet, script, or notes app.
How to extract text from a PDF
- Click Select File, or drag your PDF into the drop zone.
- Click Extract Text and wait while each page is read. Switch on Add page separators if you want page breaks marked.
- Click Copy Text to put it on your clipboard, or Download .txt to save a TXT file.
What works, and what does not
The tool reads the text layer that most PDFs already contain, such as documents saved from Word, Google Docs, or a website. It keeps line breaks where the lines end, and shows word and character counts.
A scanned PDF is just pictures of pages, so it has no text to read, and the tool will tell you so. Turning pictures into text takes OCR, which this tool does not do. Layout is plain text, so tables and columns can come out as simple lines.
Fixing common problems
- You get no text. The PDF is probably a scan. Use an OCR tool, or if you just need the pictures, try PDF to JPG.
- Text looks jumbled. PDFs store text in drawing order, which can differ from reading order in columns and tables. Copy from the result and tidy it in an editor.
- You want only some pages. Cut them out first with Split PDF or Delete PDF Pages.
- You want the images instead. Use Extract Images from PDF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I copy text from a PDF that won't let me select it?
Try this tool. If the PDF has a real text layer, it pulls the words out even when the viewer blocks selection. If the file is a scan, there's no text layer to pull.
Does this tool use OCR?
No. It reads text that is already inside the PDF. Scanned pages need a separate OCR tool.
How do I convert a PDF to a text file?
Click Extract Text, then Download. You'll get a plain TXT file with the whole document.
Will it keep tables and columns?
Not exactly. The result is plain text, so tables become lines of text and columns may run together.
Can I extract text from a password-protected PDF?
Only if it opens without a password. Otherwise the tool shows a message and can't read it.
Is my PDF uploaded to read the text?
No. The text is read in your browser, so the document never leaves your device.