Scanned PDF to Text (OCR)
HeavyRead text out of scanned PDFs and images using in-browser OCR.
Input
Settings
Run
Results
Results will appear here once you run the tool.
About Scanned PDF to Text (OCR)
Read text out of scanned PDFs and images using in-browser OCR. Drop a file into Scanned PDF to Text (OCR) or click to browse, then choose your settings.
Your files stay on your device. ZyncTools has no upload step: the file is read in your browser, processed there, and handed straight back to you. There is no account, no watermark and no size cap beyond what your own device can hold.
Settings. Scanned PDF to Text (OCR) gives you control over language, pages, render resolution and boost contrast before reading.
This one works your device hard. Processing happens locally, so a large file takes real time and real CPU. It is still faster than uploading for most files, and nothing leaves your machine.
Also known as: ocr, scan, recognise, text, tesseract, image to text.
How to use Scanned PDF to Text (OCR)
- Add your input. Drop your file onto the upload area, or click it to browse. The file is read in your browser and never uploaded.
- Choose your settings. Adjust language, pages, render resolution and the other 1 settings to suit what you need.
- Run the tool. Press Run. Processing happens on your own device, so the time it takes depends on your machine rather than a queue.
- Save the result. Copy the output, or press Download to save it. Nothing is kept once you close the tab.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the first run slow?
The first run downloads a language model of roughly 10 to 15 MB. After that it is cached by your browser and later runs start immediately.
How do I get better accuracy?
Render at 300 DPI rather than 150, leave the contrast boost on for faint scans, and make sure the language setting matches the document. Straight, high-contrast scans read far better than photographs of paper.
Are my files uploaded when I use Scanned PDF to Text (OCR)?
No. Scanned PDF to Text (OCR) runs entirely inside your browser. Your file is read locally, processed on your own device, and handed straight back to you. You can confirm this yourself: open your browser's developer tools, watch the Network tab, and run the tool — no request carries your data anywhere.
Is Scanned PDF to Text (OCR) free?
Yes, completely. No account, no sign-up, no watermark on your output, and no cap on how many times you can use it. The project is open source under the AGPL licence.
Is there a file size limit?
There is no server limit, because nothing is uploaded. The practical ceiling is your device's memory — on a modern laptop, files up to a few hundred megabytes are comfortable, while phones handle less. If a tab becomes unresponsive, the file was too large for the memory available.
Why does this take a while?
The work happens on your device rather than a server, so speed depends on your own processor. That is the trade for never uploading anything. Larger files and higher quality settings take proportionally longer.
Does Scanned PDF to Text (OCR) work offline?
Mostly. The site caches itself after your first visit, so it keeps working without a connection. Tools that need a specialised library — PDF editing, OCR, QR codes, MP3 encoding — need a connection the first time you run them, then that library is cached too.