OCR Scanned PDF
Make scanned documents searchable with OCR.
Goal
Convert a scanned PDF (image-based) into a searchable PDF with selectable text.
OCR requires a Pro plan or higher. View plans
Open the Scanned PDF
Open the scanned PDF in the editor.
Start OCR
Click Tools → OCR and select the document language(s).
Choose Output Type
Choose output type:
- Searchable PDF: Text layer added over images
- Text Only: Extract just the text
Run OCR
Click Run OCR and wait for processing.
Save
Save the searchable PDF.
Verify OCR Worked
After OCR:
- Try to select text on the page
- Use Ctrl/Cmd + F to search
- If text selects and searches work, OCR succeeded
Multiple Languages
For documents with multiple languages:
- In OCR settings, select all languages present
- OCR will recognize text in all selected languages
Tips
- Higher quality scans produce better results
- 300 DPI minimum recommended
- Black text on white background works best
- Review results for accuracy
Troubleshooting
Poor Recognition
- Check scan quality (increase DPI)
- Ensure document is straight (not skewed)
- Try selecting specific languages
Missing Text
- Some decorative fonts may not recognize
- Handwriting has limited support
- Very small text may not be detected
Plan Limits
| Plan | OCR Pages/Month |
|---|---|
| Free | 0 |
| Pro | 500 |
| Business | 2,000 |
| Enterprise | Unlimited |
Next Steps
- OCR Guide - Full OCR documentation
- Convert to PDF - Convert other formats
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