PDF to Text Converter

Extract text from PDF online: upload or drop a PDF, pull out selectable text, copy the result, or download it as TXT, CSV, or JSON.

Extract Text from PDF Online

Drop a PDF here

or click to choose a file

Leave blank for all pages.
Output options
Scanned PDF option

OCR is slower and runs in your browser. It helps scanned or image-only pages, but results can need cleanup.

Extracted Text

If the output is blank, the PDF may be scanned. Turn on browser OCR and extract again.

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How to Use

  1. Choose a PDF or drop it into the converter.
  2. Wait while the tool extracts text automatically.
  3. Review the output, result summary, and any page warnings.
  4. Copy the text or download it as TXT, CSV, or JSON.

How it Works

This tool uses pdf.js to read selectable text from the PDF structure inside your browser. For scanned or image-only pages, turn on browser OCR. OCR renders the page image locally and recognizes characters, so it is slower than normal text extraction.

Worked Example

A searchable invoice, research paper, resume, form, or report usually contains selectable text that can be extracted into plain text. A scanned document may need OCR first.

Sample PDF input: invoice page 1 Expected text output: Invoice #1048 Acme Supplies Ltd Subtotal: 125.00 Tax: 25.00 Total: 150.00

Invoices and forms may need cleanup around tables. Research papers can extract columns out of reading order. Reports and resumes usually work best when the PDF text is selectable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert PDF to TXT?

Choose or drop a PDF. Extraction starts automatically for valid PDFs. Review the text, then use Download TXT.

Why is my extracted text blank?

The PDF may be scanned, image-only, encrypted, or encoded in a way the browser cannot read. Scanned documents need OCR.

Can I extract text from a password-protected PDF?

Only after it is unlocked. Open the PDF in a reader with the password, save an unlocked copy, and try that file.

Can I extract text from selected pages?

Yes. Enter a range such as 1, 3-5, 10 in the page range box before extracting.

Does this preserve tables?

The output is plain text. Simple tables may be readable, but complex tables and multi-column layouts often need manual cleanup.

Is my file uploaded?

No. The PDF is processed locally in your browser with pdf.js. OCR mode also runs in the browser after the OCR library loads.

What is the difference between PDF text extraction and OCR?

PDF text extraction reads text already stored inside the file. OCR analyzes page images to recognize characters in scanned documents.

PDF Text Extraction Troubleshooting

Digital PDF vs scanned PDF

A digital PDF contains selectable text. A scanned PDF is usually a page image and needs OCR before text can be copied.

Text layer

Why text can look out of order

PDFs store positioned text objects, not paragraphs. Columns, sidebars, tables, and captions can extract in drawing order.

Reading order

How to improve results

Use page ranges for long files, keep page numbers on while reviewing, and try Merge lines into paragraphs for prose documents.

Cleanup

What to do when no text appears

Turn on browser OCR and extract again. If OCR still fails, re-export the PDF or open it in a PDF reader to check whether the page is an image.

OCR path

When passwords or corruption block extraction

Unlock protected PDFs before using the tool. For corrupted files, re-export from the source app or save a fresh copy from a PDF reader.

Recovery

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