Document ReaderExtract text from a PDF
Copy all the text out of a PDF as a .txt file, free and in your browser. Works on any PDF with a text layer; scans go through OCR first. Nothing is uploaded.
Free. No account. The file stays on your device.
Get the plain text of a PDF: for a search, a translation, a word count or to paste into another document. The text is extracted in reading order, page by page, and saved as a .txt file.
If the PDF is a scan with no text layer, the OCR tool recognises the text first. Everything runs on your device.
How it works
- Tap Extract text, then PDF to Text in the File Conversions list.
- Choose the PDF.
- Download the .txt or open it in the viewer.
Why Document Reader
- Private: copy text from PDF without uploading anything; the work is done by your browser.
- Works on any device: phone, tablet or computer, in Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox, and offline after the first visit.
- One place for every file: PDF text extractor, plus PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images, eBooks and archives.
- Rated 4.8 on Google Play by 688 people for the Android app.
Questions
The result is empty: why?
The PDF is probably a scan without a text layer. Run OCR on it first.
Can I get Word instead of plain text?
Yes. PDF to Word keeps paragraphs, headings and pictures.
Can I count the words in a PDF?
Yes. Word count is in the viewer menu.
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Get the app
Prefer an app? Document Reader is on Android.