OCR (make searchable)
Add a text layer to a scanned PDF so it's searchable and selectable.
OCR (make searchable) is launching soon
We’re putting the finishing touches on it. Want first access the day it goes live?
Private & offline by design — your files are processed in memory and never stored.
How to ocr (make searchable)
- 1Upload your file, or drag and drop it in.
- 2Run OCR — it processes instantly on our server.
- 3Download the result. The one-time link expires in ~15 minutes, then the file is deleted.
Why use PDFHandle
Add a text layer to a scanned PDF so it's searchable and selectable. PDFHandle runs entirely on our own server with no third-party services, so your documents stay private — they're processed in memory and deleted within about 15 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is OCR (make searchable) free?
Yes. OCR (make searchable) is completely free — no sign-up, no watermark, and no daily limits.
Are my files kept private?
Yes. Files are processed in memory on our own server — no third-party services — and deleted within about 15 minutes. Nothing is stored and no account data is attached.
Do I need to install anything?
No. It runs in any modern browser on desktop, tablet, or phone. There's nothing to download or install.
Is there a file size limit?
Each file can be up to 50 MB. Larger documents can be split first with the Split PDF tool.
Related tools
Looking to pull tables out instead? Convert a PDF to verified Excel — we prove every total foots.