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OCR PDF Online - Make Scanned PDFs Searchable | CarePDF

Convert scanned PDFs to searchable documents using OCR. Free online tool to extract text from images in PDF. Supports 12+ languages including English, Chinese, Arabic.

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OCR Options

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Tip: Drag files to reorder them before processing.

How It Works

1. Upload

Select or drag your files into the upload area.

2. Configure

Adjust settings if needed.

3. Download

Get your processed file instantly.

Features

Searchable PDFs

Add an invisible text layer that makes your scanned documents fully searchable with Ctrl+F.

Copy & Paste Text

Select and copy text from previously unsearchable scanned documents.

12+ Languages

Support for English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, and more.

Preserved Appearance

The visual appearance of your PDF stays exactly the same - only text recognition is added.

Fast Cloud Processing

Powerful OCR processing on our servers - no software installation needed.

Secure & Private

Files are encrypted and automatically deleted within 1 hour.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OCR?
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is technology that converts images of text into actual machine-readable, searchable, and editable text.
Will my PDF look different after OCR?
No, the PDF looks exactly the same. OCR adds an invisible text layer behind the visible images, enabling search and text selection without changing the appearance.
What languages are supported?
We support 12+ languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese (Simplified & Traditional), Japanese, Korean, and Arabic.
How accurate is the OCR?
Accuracy depends on the quality of the scanned document. Clear, high-resolution scans typically achieve 95-99% accuracy. Blurry or low-quality scans may have lower accuracy.
Can OCR recognize handwritten text?
OCR works best with printed text. Handwritten text recognition is limited and depends on legibility. Neat, printed-style handwriting may be partially recognized.
How long does OCR processing take?
Processing time depends on the number of pages and document complexity. Most documents are processed within 1-3 minutes.
Is the OCR service free?
Yes, our OCR tool is completely free with no hidden costs or registration required.
Are my documents secure?
Absolutely. We use 256-bit SSL encryption for all transfers. Files are processed securely and automatically deleted within 1 hour.

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