Extract text from a PDF
Extract the text from a PDF to copy it or save it as a .txt file. Upload your document and the tool reads its text layer, page by page. Everything happens in your browser: your file is never uploaded to any server.
How to extract the text from a PDF
- Drag your PDF onto the upload area or click to pick it.
- If you like, turn on the page-break markers to split the text by page.
- Press “Extract text” and wait while the pages are read.
- Copy the text or download it as a .txt file.
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded to any server?
No. The extraction happens entirely in your browser with JavaScript (Mozilla's pdf.js library). Your document never leaves your device, which is ideal for sensitive files.
Does it work with scanned PDFs?
Not directly. This tool reads the PDF's text layer; if the document is a scan (an image of each page) there is no text to extract and it will let you know. That would require OCR, which recognizes the text inside the images.
Does it keep the formatting and line breaks?
It keeps each page's line breaks as best it can, but not the visual layout (columns, tables or fonts). The result is plain text, ideal for reusing or searching.
What are the page-break markers?
An option that inserts a “Page N” label before each page's text, so you know where every fragment comes from. You can turn it off if you prefer continuous text.
Does it work with password-protected PDFs?
No. If the PDF is encrypted with a password, the tool detects it and warns you, because its content can't be read without the key. Remove the protection first.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Once the page has loaded, all the extraction happens locally, so it works without an internet connection.
Related guides
- Free OCR: extract text from images and scanned PDFs without uploading them Most PDF websites hide OCR behind a paid plan and upload your document to their server. Here is how they limit it — and a free, 9-language, fully private alternative that recognizes the text in your browser.
- How to edit a PDF for free (without uploading it anywhere) Reorder pages, fix a line of text, add your signature or an image —all in the browser, for free, and without the file ever leaving your device. What you can edit this way and what you cannot.