Extract text from a PDF
Copy all the text out of a PDF and save it as a plain UTF-8 text file.
Processed in your browser. Your files stay on this device. Nothing is uploaded to our servers.
or drop it hereSupported formats: PDF
How to use PDF to Text
- 1
Add a PDF file.
- 2
Select Extract and review the text preview.
- 3
Copy the text or download it as a .txt file.
About PDF to Text
Extracting text is useful for quoting, searching, editing, or feeding content into another program. The tool reads the text embedded in the PDF and saves it as UTF-8, so Arabic and other scripts are preserved. Extraction runs in your browser; the file is not uploaded. Scanned documents and photos saved as PDF contain images of text rather than real text, so there is nothing to extract. The tool detects this and explains that optical character recognition (OCR) is needed: run the OCR PDF tool first, then extract the text. Complex layouts such as tables may lose their structure.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the result empty?
The PDF probably contains scanned images instead of text. Such files need OCR software; the tool tells you when it detects this.
Does it work with Arabic PDFs?
Yes, when the PDF contains real embedded text. Some PDFs created with unusual fonts may produce text in an unexpected order.
Is table formatting kept?
No. The output is plain text, so columns and tables become lines of text.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The text is extracted in your browser on your device.