Before you start
- Use the clearest scan available and rotate pages before upload.
- Choose the document language that matches most of the text.
MV ToolsPDF OCR tool
Scanned PDF OCR Online
Turn a scanned PDF into a searchable PDF and download the recognized text as a TXT file.
For a searchable PDF
Use this tool when the output must remain a PDF that people can search and select text in, rather than when you need a fully editable document.
- Supports one PDF up to 100 MB and 100 pages; encrypted PDFs are rejected.
- Choose the matching language, including English + Simplified Chinese or English + Japanese when appropriate.
- Review the generated searchable PDF and the sidecar TXT, especially names, numbers, tables, and codes.
The PDF and results are processed temporarily on the server. Default cleanup is 30 minutes; the processing timeout is five minutes.
Most server file tools have a default 30-minute retention period. Expired files are removed by scheduled cleanup, so this is not an exact deletion timestamp.
How to Prepare Scanned Documents for More Accurate OCRValidate a searchable PDF
Check the result
- Search for names, numbers, and headings that are important to you.
- Copy a few passages and compare them with the visible page image.
Know the limit: Handwriting, low contrast, skew, decorative fonts, and mixed languages can reduce recognition accuracy.
Scanned PDF OCR for Searchable PDFs and Text
Add OCR to scanned PDF files online, create a searchable PDF, and download the recognized text as a TXT file.
What This Tool Does
Upload a scanned PDF, choose the OCR language, and MV Tools runs OCRmyPDF on the server. The output is a searchable PDF with an OCR text layer plus a separate TXT download.
Common Use Cases
- Making scanned PDFs searchable and easier to copy from
- Extracting text from scanned contracts, forms, reports, invoices, or archive documents
- Preparing OCR text for review, indexing, translation, or document workflows
How Data Is Handled
Uploaded PDFs, searchable PDF outputs, and extracted text files are processed temporarily on the server and are cleaned up automatically after the retention window.
FAQ
What is a searchable PDF?
A searchable PDF keeps the page image and adds a hidden OCR text layer so text can be selected, copied, and searched.
Does this work on already searchable PDFs?
The tool is intended for scanned PDFs. OCRmyPDF skips pages that already contain text.
Are uploaded PDFs stored permanently?
No. Uploaded PDFs, OCR PDFs, and TXT outputs are temporary and are automatically cleaned up.