How to get the text out of a PDF
Add your PDF and the text appears in the box. Press Copy text to paste it anywhere, or Download to save a .txt or .md file. Choose Simple Markdown if you want headings and lists marked up.
What works and what does not
- PDFs made from Word, Google Docs or websites contain real text and convert well.
- Scans and photos saved as PDF hold only pictures. They give an empty result here.
- Tables and multi-column pages are read line by line, so you may need to tidy them.
After you have the text
Count it with the Word Counter, change its case with the Text Case Converter, or see what changed between two versions with Compare PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The text is read inside your browser. Your file stays on your device.
Why is the result empty?
Scanned PDFs and photos saved as PDF contain pictures of text, not real text, so there is nothing to copy. This tool does not read pictures. A character recognition (OCR) program is needed for scans.
What does Markdown mode do?
It guesses headings from large text and keeps bullet and numbered lines, so the result is easier to paste into notes or a website. It is a simple guess, so check the result. Tables and columns are not rebuilt.
The words look mixed up or in the wrong order.
PDFs store text in pieces, not as paragraphs. Pages with columns, tables or unusual layouts may read in a different order than you expect.
Can I pick pages?
Yes. Type the pages, for example 1-3, or leave the box empty for the whole file.