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Make a scanned PDF searchable with local OCR
Clean page images, correct orientation, recognize six languages, and download both a searchable PDF and extracted text.
The OCR workflow downloads the selected recognition model, renders and cleans each page, recognizes text locally, and creates a searchable image PDF plus a TXT file. Confidence reporting identifies results that deserve closer review.
Use OCR PDFExample and measured release result
Example input: A clean printed scan containing a known heading and body sentence
Expected output: A searchable image PDF, TXT file, and visible recognition-confidence result
Measured result: The known fixture text was recognized and a confidence result was reported
The OCR regression runs locally and checks recognized text plus quality reporting. Last tested July 21, 2026 by PDFArrow Product Engineering.
How to use OCR PDF
- Choose a clear, unencrypted scanned PDF and select its main language.
- Choose cleanup and orientation settings, then run OCR on this device.
- Review low-confidence names, dates, and numbers before using the searchable output.
What this tool supports
- Recognize six supported document languages.
- Apply automatic cleanup and orientation correction.
- Download a searchable PDF, TXT file, and confidence summary.
Common OCR PDF tasks
- Searching scanned agreements
- Copying text from paper records
- Making an image PDF easier to archive
Privacy, supported files, and limits
The selected language model is downloaded on first use, but the PDF pages and recognized text are processed on this device and are not sent to an OCR or AI service.
Browser OCR supports unencrypted PDFs up to 20 MB and 24 pages. It downloads the selected English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, or Portuguese model, processes pages locally, and creates a searchable image PDF plus TXT; handwriting and low-quality scans may need correction.
OCR PDF questions
What does OCR do to a PDF?
OCR recognizes text in page images and adds a searchable text layer while keeping the scan visible.
Which OCR languages are supported?
The current workflow offers English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese recognition.
Can OCR recognize handwriting?
It is designed for printed text. Handwriting and poor scans may produce unreliable results and require correction.
What limits apply?
Browser OCR supports unencrypted PDFs up to 20 MB and 24 pages.
Is OCR performed by an external service?
No. A language model downloads on first use, then recognition and PDF creation run on this device.