PDF to Text
PDF to Text extracts the text inside a PDF, free and in your browser. You choose a PDF, and the tool pulls out its text so you can copy it or download it as a text file.
Last updated: 30 October 2026 · Free · No signup
Extracting text is useful when you need to quote, edit, search, or reuse the words in a PDF, rather than just read them. Copying text by hand from a long PDF is slow and introduces mistakes. This tool reads the text layer of the PDF, so the words come out as selectable text you can work with.
This tool works on PDFs that actually contain text. A scanned PDF that is only a photograph of pages has no text layer to extract, so it will give little or no text. For scanned documents, the text needs to be recognised first, which is a different job from extraction.
Privacy: this tool runs entirely in your browser — no upload, no signup, and your files never leave your device.
Extract all the text written inside a PDF — copy and paste it anywhere, or download it as a .txt file. (A scanned-image PDF has no extractable text.)
How to use PDF to Text
- Choose or drop a PDF file.
- Wait for the text to be extracted.
- Copy the text you need, or download it as a text file.
- Paste it into your document, note or search.
Key facts
| Input | One PDF file containing text |
|---|---|
| Output | Extracted text, to copy or download |
| Upload | None — extraction happens in your browser |
Frequently asked questions
Why does my PDF give no text when I extract it?
The most likely reason is that the PDF is a scanned image, not a text PDF. Scanned pages are photographs of text, with no text layer inside, so there is nothing to extract. A PDF made from a word processor or a website will normally extract well.
Will the extracted text keep the original formatting?
No, not fully. Extraction gives you the words in order, but headings, columns and tables may not keep their exact layout. Use the extracted text as a starting point, and reformat it in your document if layout matters.
Can I extract text from a password-protected PDF?
No. A protected PDF will not open in the tool, because the tool cannot read its contents without the password. Remove the protection in the tool that made the PDF first, if you are allowed to do so.
Is my PDF uploaded when I extract its text?
No. Extraction happens in your browser only. The file never leaves your device, and nothing is saved after you close the page.