How to OCR a PDF into text

Complete guide with multiple methods and troubleshooting

7-10 min read
Expert Verified
Last Updated: August 2025

Quick Answer

To OCR a PDF into text, you can use various software tools that convert scanned documents into editable text. This process typically involves selecting the PDF file, choosing the OCR option, and saving the output as a text file or another format.

Medium⏱ 7-10 min read

Prerequisites & Requirements

Before starting the OCR process, ensure you have the following:
  • •A computer running Windows 10/11, macOS, or a compatible Linux distribution.
  • •At least 2 GB of RAM and 500 MB of free disk space.
  • •Administrator permissions to install software if required.
  • •OCR software such as Adobe Acrobat, ABBYY FineReader, or free tools like Tesseract.
  • •Backup any important data, especially if you are modifying existing files.

Method 1: Using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is a powerful tool for OCR that provides high accuracy and various output formats.
  • •Step 1: Open Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. Click on 'File' > 'Open' to select your PDF file.
  • •Step 2: Once the PDF is open, go to 'Tools' in the top menu, then select 'Scan & OCR'.
  • •Step 3: Click on 'Recognize Text' and then select 'In This File'. Choose the language and click 'Recognize Text'.
  • •Step 4: To verify it worked, try selecting text in the document. If you can highlight and copy text, the OCR was successful.
  • •Step 5: If it doesn't work, ensure the PDF is not password-protected and that the scanned images are clear.

For Windows 11

In Windows 11, the interface is slightly updated but follows the same steps as above.
  • •Open Adobe Acrobat Pro DC from the Start Menu.
  • •Follow the same menu paths as described for OCR.

For Windows 10

The process remains consistent with Windows 10, but ensure your software is updated to the latest version.
  • •Open Adobe Acrobat Pro DC from the Start Menu.
  • •Follow the same menu paths as described for OCR.

Method 2: Using ABBYY FineReader

ABBYY FineReader is another robust OCR tool that offers advanced features for converting PDFs to text.
  • •Step 1: Launch ABBYY FineReader and select 'Open PDF Document'.
  • •Step 2: Choose the PDF file you want to OCR. The software will automatically detect the text.
  • •Step 3: Click on 'Convert to Word' or 'Save As' to choose your desired output format.
  • •Step 4: Verify the output by opening the saved file and checking for text accuracy.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter problems during the OCR process, consider the following solutions:
  • •Error: 'Cannot recognize text' - Solution: Ensure the document is not too blurry or low resolution. Rescan if necessary.
  • •Issue: 'Text is jumbled or incorrect' - Fix: Check the language settings in the OCR tool and adjust them as needed.
  • •Problem: 'Software crashes during OCR' - Workaround: Restart the software and try processing smaller sections of the PDF.

Advanced Tips & Shortcuts

Enhance your OCR experience with these tips:
  • •Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + O - Opens the OCR tool in Adobe Acrobat quickly.
  • •Command line: tesseract input.pdf output.txt - Use Tesseract OCR via command line for batch processing.
  • •Hidden feature: Batch OCR - Many OCR tools allow batch processing of multiple files at once; check the settings.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common pitfalls:

Expert Tips

For the best OCR results, use high-quality scans and ensure your software is up to date.