How to make a scanned pdf searchable with ocr
- Step 1Upload the scanned PDF — Drop the image-only PDF into the OCR tool.
- Step 2Run OCR — The tool analyses each page image and recognises the text.
- Step 3Download the searchable PDF — Save the OCR-processed PDF with the invisible text layer.
- Step 4Search and select text — Open in any PDF viewer and use Ctrl+F to search within the document.
Frequently asked questions
What OCR accuracy can I expect on a clean scan?+
Clean black-and-white scans of printed text achieve 95-99% accuracy. Coloured, low-resolution, or handwritten scans have lower accuracy.
Does OCR change the visual appearance of the PDF?+
No — the text layer is invisible and sits behind the original scan image. The PDF looks identical to the pre-OCR version.
Can I search the OCR text in document management systems?+
Yes — full-text search in SharePoint, Google Drive, and most DMS platforms uses the PDF text layer, which is created by the OCR process.
Privacy first
All PDF processing runs locally in your browser using PDF-lib and pdf.js. No file is ever uploaded — only metadata counters are saved for signed-in dashboard stats.