Search within scanned files
Create a text layer to look up names, codes, or phrases in image documents.
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Recognize text in scanned PDFs to make content searchable. Upload one file up to 256 MB. No registration required.
Technical content edited by Tools.4PDF.Net • Updated September 8, 2026Choose one file · up to 256 MB
Files are protected and deleted automaticallyGuide
Three steps from the source document to the result you need.
Select the right task for your document.
Drop files or select them directly from your device.
Track progress and download your file when it is ready.
No account, no installation and no unnecessary steps.
Only this session can access your files.
Input files and results expire after one hour.
Learn about this tool
OCR PDF adds a searchable text layer to scanned documents. You can choose Vietnamese, English, or English + Vietnamese so that the recognition engine correctly processes the character set and diacritics. The tool has three modes: skip pages that already contain text, OCR the entire document, and automatic. The skew correction option is for scanned documents that are tilted. After processing, you can search, copy, and continue processing the text portion more easily.
The accuracy of OCR depends heavily on the scan. Text that is large enough, high contrast, straight, and with minimal background shadows is usually easier to recognize than blurry or smeared images. For Vietnamese, it is necessary to carefully check the diacritics; bilingual documents should select English + Vietnamese. OCR may change the output file, layout, or text layer, especially when forcing full OCR. Keep the original and verify proper nouns, numbers, and file codes before using the data.
Create a text layer to look up names, codes, or phrases in image documents.
Select English + Vietnamese for contracts or guides with bilingual content.
Enable automatic skew correction before recognizing misaligned pages.
Practical tips
Each job uses a separate anonymous session. Learn how we handle data in our Privacy and Security.
Frequently asked questions
If most of the content is in Vietnamese and there are only a few familiar terms, Vietnamese is usually the reasonable choice to prioritize accents. For contracts, tables, or instructions where both languages frequently appear, choose English + Vietnamese. Regardless of the mode chosen, review proper names, abbreviations, and code strings.
Skipping pages that already have text focuses only on pages without a text layer, suitable for PDFs mixed with electronic and scanned pages. Forcing OCR on all pages processes every page, including those that already have text, so it may change the text layer or produce more outputs. The automatic mode lets the system decide per page.
Blurry images, low contrast, tilted pages, small fonts, backgrounds with patterns or folds all make characters difficult to distinguish. Please select the language with Vietnamese, enable tilt correction when needed, and use a clearer scan if available. OCR should not be the sole source for amounts, file codes, or legal data.
Access expires after one hour and cleanup runs every five minutes. Download any results you need before they expire.