How to Make a Scanned PDF Searchable and Copyable (OCR PDF)

You scan a stack of documents and save them as a PDF. Months later you need one invoice number or one name, but there is no way to find it. Pressing search shows nothing, and you cannot select a single line. The file is only a set of pictures of pages.

OCR fixes this. It reads the pictures and adds a hidden text layer, so the PDF looks exactly the same but becomes searchable and copyable.

When do you need a searchable PDF?

• A folder of scanned bills, letters or certificates that you want to search later
• A scanned book chapter or notes where you want to find a word fast
• A document where you need to copy a few lines without retyping
• Files you want to organise and find easily in a PDF reader

How to make a scanned PDF searchable step by step

1. Open the OCR PDF tool. Use the button at the top of this page to open Pdfyra Workspace.
2. Add your scanned PDF. Tap Select scanned PDF, or drop the file in. You can also pick it from Google Drive or Dropbox.
3. Choose the language of the document. Pick the language the text is written in, such as English.
4. Tap Make searchable PDF. Pdfyra reads the pages and builds a new PDF. Large files take a few minutes, so wait until it finishes.
5. Download and test. Open the new file, search for a word and try copying a line.

OCR PDF or Extract Text: which one?

Use OCR PDF when you want to keep the PDF as it is, but make it searchable. Use the Extract Text tool when you want only the text, to copy or save as a text file. Here is our guide on how to extract text from a scanned PDF.

Tips for better results

Pick the right language. If the document is in Hindi, choose Hindi, not English.

Start with a clear scan. Good light, straight pages and sharp photos give more accurate text. See how to scan documents to PDF.

Fix the page direction first. Sideways pages are read badly. See how to rotate PDF pages.

Remove dark edges. See how to crop a PDF.

Check important numbers. After OCR, double-check amounts, dates and ID numbers.

Photos instead of a PDF? Turn them into one file first. See how to convert images to PDF.

Many scanned files? Join them first. Here is how to merge PDF files on your phone.

File too large to email? See how to compress a PDF.

Ready to make your PDF searchable?

Open the tool, add your scanned PDF, choose the language and get a searchable file in a few taps.