PDF to Text
Get every word out of a PDF in one go: copy it all with one button, or download it as a .txt file.
Free, no sign-up. Everything runs in your browser.
or drop a PDF here
PDF files up to 150 MB. Scanned PDFs have no text to pull out.
Your file stays on your device
Step by step
How to use PDF to Text
- 1
Open the PDF
Choose a PDF whose text you can select in a PDF reader (not a scan).
- 2
Check the text
All pages are read and shown in a box, with page numbers if you want them.
- 3
Copy or download
Press Copy all text to paste it anywhere, or Download .txt to save it.
Overview
About PDF to Text
Copying from a PDF reader often goes wrong: lines break in odd places, columns get mixed up, and you have to select page after page. This tool reads the text stored in the PDF for every page at once and puts the pieces back into lines and paragraphs, so you can copy text from the PDF in one go or export it as a plain text file.
It works with PDFs made from Word, browsers, billing software and most other programs, because they keep real text inside. A scanned PDF is different: its pages are photos of paper, so there is no text to pull out until it goes through OCR, which this tool does not do.
The PDF is read in your browser and is not uploaded, so bank statements, contracts and notes stay private.
When it helps
- Copying a paragraph or a whole report from a PDF into Word or an email
- Saving the text of an e-book or notes as a .txt file
- Getting the words out of a PDF to translate or edit them
- Searching a long PDF's text in a text editor
Specs
Supported files and limits
- Works with
- PDFs with selectable text, up to 150 MB
- Output
- Text to copy, or a UTF-8 .txt file, with optional page numbers
- Scanned PDFs
- Not supported (they need OCR)
- Where it runs
- In your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Good to know
- Scanned PDFs and photos saved as PDF have no text layer, so nothing comes out.
- Tables become plain lines of text; columns are not kept as a table.
- Pages with two or more columns can come out in an unexpected order, depending on how the PDF was made.
- Password-protected PDFs cannot be opened.
Fix a problem
Troubleshooting
It says no text was found
The PDF is a scan or made of pictures. Try selecting a word in a PDF reader: if you cannot, there is no text inside.
Some words are joined or split
The PDF places letters one by one with odd spacing. Fix the few words by hand after pasting.
Hindi text looks broken
Some PDFs store Indian scripts in old non-Unicode fonts, so the letters come out wrong. That file needs OCR or the original document.
Copy all text did nothing
Your browser blocked the clipboard. Click in the box, select all and copy, or use Download .txt.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I copy text from a PDF?
Open the PDF here and press Copy all text. Every page's text is copied, ready to paste into Word, an email or WhatsApp.
How do I convert a PDF to a TXT file?
Open the PDF and press Download .txt. You get a plain text file with the text of every page.
Why can't I copy text from my PDF?
Either it is a scan (a picture of text) or the PDF has copy protection. Scans need OCR; protected files need the password.
Does it keep the formatting?
No. You get plain text with line breaks and paragraphs. Fonts, bold, tables and pictures are left out.
Can I get the text of only some pages?
Turn on Show page numbers and copy the part you need, or cut the PDF first with Split PDF.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The text is read in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.
Is it free?
Yes, free with no sign-up and no limit.
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