PDF OCR: Make PDFs searchable
Make scanned images and PDFs searchable. Drop your file below, and our optical character recognition (OCR) tool will make text readable and searchable. Free online tool.
or drop your file here
You're in good company
How to OCR files online
Follow these simple steps to OCR your PDFs and images online:
- 1
Upload
Drop your file into the dropzone above or click the 'Upload' button.
- 2
Confirm OCR
Sign-in and click ‘Confirm’ to begin OCR and wait for it to complete.
- 3
Your text is now selectable
Flattened text from your image will now be selectable.
Convert images to text with OCR
Convert scanned PDFs into editable text with Lumin’s free OCR tool. Recognize text accurately and make your documents searchable and easy to edit.
Convert scanned PDFs into searchable text
Transform your image-only PDFs into fully searchable documents where every word can be found, copied, and edited. Whether it's a scanned contract, old invoice, or handwritten notes, OCR technology reads the text in your images and makes it accessible.
Export to multiple formats with Lumin
After running OCR on your PDF, save it as a searchable PDF that looks identical to the original but with selectable text underneath. Need more flexibility? With Lumin, you can export your OCR-processed document to Word, Excel, or other formats.
Works on any device
Process PDFs with OCR from your Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Android device, no software installation required. Just open your browser, upload your file, and let OCR do its magic.
Edit PDFs without limits
Turn scanned files into fully editable PDFs with Lumin. Once OCR makes your text searchable, you can highlight important details, add comments or text, insert secure signatures, and even split or merge pages..
Security guaranteed
Your confidential documents stay secure. All files are encrypted during upload and processing to ensure your privacy. You can safely work with sensitive contracts, financial documents, or personal records with complete peace of mind.
Easy and fast
Skip the complicated software and lengthy tutorials. Upload your scanned PDF, click to apply OCR, and download your searchable document within seconds. The entire process is designed for speed and simplicity, turning hours of manual retyping into a quick automated task.
Frequently asked questions
What is OCR?
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is a technology that extracts text from images, scans, or image-based PDFs and converts it into editable, searchable text. It lets your computer recognize letters and words instead of just displaying a picture of text.
What is the difference between a standard PDF and an OCR PDF?
A standard PDF made from a scan is just an image, so the text cannot be searched or copied. An OCR PDF looks the same but includes a hidden text layer, allowing you to search, copy, and edit content.
Why should I use OCR on a PDF document?
OCR makes PDFs searchable, editable, and accessible. You can find keywords quickly, copy text without retyping, edit documents digitally, and make files usable with screen readers or searchable in document management systems.
What file types can I process with OCR?
You can process image-based PDFs, scanned documents, images such as JPG and PNG, and even screenshots. Lumin’s OCR tool converts them into searchable and editable text files while preserving the quality of the original document.
Is Lumin’s OCR PDF tool free to use?
Lumin PDF offers free access to OCR processing and a full suite of PDF tools. You can use it to work on scanned documents, invoices, and contracts without any cost.
Can OCR technology recognize handwritten text in PDFs?
OCR can process handwriting, but accuracy depends on how clear it is. Neat, printed handwriting usually converts well, while cursive or stylized writing may be less accurate.
Trusted by more than 100 million customers
Featured articles
PDF editing
• Oct 19, 2022
What is Optical Character Recognition, and how does it work?
Handwritten notes and sketches are handy in print – but hard to use in a digital workspace. That’s where OCR, or Optical Character Recognition, comes in.
Read more What is Optical Character Recognition, and how does it work?
PDF editing
• Aug 5, 2025
How to make a PDF editable
Need to update a PDF? You can make changes like editing text, filling in forms, or adjusting the layout without expensive software.
Read more How to make a PDF editable
PDF editing
• Nov 17, 2025
How to search a PDF
Want to search text in your PDF? From finding specific words to locating page numbers or key sections, there are simple tools that make it quick and easy.
Read more How to search a PDF
Discover Lumin’s products
Collaborate with existing colleagues and onboard new ones with Lumin and Lumin Sign. Our innovative solutions work great on their own, but they’re even better together.
Lumin Sign
A digital signature workflow tool that seals deals with legally-compliant signatures.
Learn moreLumin Sign API
An eSignature API designed to be plugged into your platform with minimal effort.
Learn more