PDF to Text
Extract the selectable text layer from any PDF and download as a .txt file — no upload.
Examples
Extract article text
Input
research-paper.pdf
Output
Plain text page by page, downloadable as .txt
Copy a table
Input
report.pdf with tabular data
Output
Rows of text you can paste into a spreadsheet
Scanned document
Input
scan.pdf (image-only)
Output
No text found — needs OCR tool
About this tool
This free PDF to text extractor pulls the selectable text layer from every page of your PDF — entirely in your browser, with no upload. You get per-page text blocks you can browse, copy, or download as a single .txt file. Because everything runs on your device, your documents stay completely private.
How to use
- Drop a PDF file onto the uploader or click to browse.
- Click Extract Text to read the text layer from every page.
- Browse the per-page results, then copy all or download as .txt.
Selectable text vs scanned PDFs
PDFs created from word processors, spreadsheets, or digital exports contain a text layer that this tool can extract instantly. Scanned PDFs are essentially photos of documents — they contain no text layer and require OCR (optical character recognition) software to convert the image to text. If the tool returns empty pages, your PDF is likely scanned.
Frequently asked questions
How do I extract text from a PDF?
Drop your PDF file onto the tool, then click Extract Text. The tool reads the selectable text layer from each page and displays it. You can copy all the text or download it as a .txt file.
Is this PDF to text converter free?
Yes — completely free with no sign-up, no watermark, and no usage limits. All text extraction runs in your browser.
What if no text appears after extraction?
If the PDF is a scanned image (a photograph of a document), it has no selectable text layer and you'll see an empty result. Scanned PDFs require OCR (optical character recognition) to extract text.
Are my PDF files uploaded anywhere?
No. The extraction happens entirely in your browser using the pdf.js library. Your file never leaves your device, making this safe for confidential documents.
Does it preserve the original formatting?
Basic line breaks are preserved, but complex multi-column layouts, tables, and formatted text may not look exactly like the original. The output is plain text, not a formatted document.
Can I extract text from a password-protected PDF?
PDFs that only restrict editing or printing can often still be read. A PDF locked with an open password (requiring a password just to view it) will not open — remove the password first.
Can I download the extracted text?
Yes. Use the 'Download .txt' button to save all extracted text as a plain text file, or 'Copy all' to copy it directly to your clipboard.
Learn more
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