Extract text from a PDF
Pull all the text out of a PDF into a plain-text file you can edit, search or paste anywhere.
How it works
How to extract text from a PDF
- 1
Open your PDF.
- 2
Choose whether to add page separators.
- 3
Click Extract text, then copy or download the .txt file.
Features
Why use our PDF to Text tool
Keeps line breaks
Text is extracted line by line in reading order.
Page markers
Optionally mark where each page starts.
Copy or download
Copy straight to your clipboard or save a UTF-8 .txt file.
Guide
About PDF to Text
Plain text is the most portable format there is: paste it into an email, a translation tool, a spreadsheet or a notes app, or feed it to scripts and search tools. This tool reads the text layer of a PDF and keeps line breaks in reading order.
Optional page markers show where each page starts, which helps when quoting or cross-checking. Scanned PDFs have no text layer — the tool detects that and points you to OCR.
Tips for best results
- Columns and tables come out as plain lines; check layout-sensitive content.
- Scanned document? Run OCR PDF first, then extract the text.
- Need page sizes and metadata too? PDF to JSON includes them.
How your file stays on your device
PDF to Text runs entirely inside your web browser. When you choose a file, your browser reads it into memory on your own device, a background Web Worker does the processing, and the result is handed straight back to you as a download. There is no upload step, no server that receives your document and no copy kept anywhere — close the tab and it is gone. That makes it safe for contracts, IDs, medical letters and anything else you would rather not send to a stranger's server. How in-browser processing works
FAQ
PDF to Text: frequently asked questions
Why is no text extracted from my scan?
Scanned PDFs contain pictures of text, not real text. Use our OCR PDF tool to recognize the text first.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Text extraction happens entirely inside your browser using JavaScript and WebAssembly. Your files never leave your device, and nothing is stored after you close the tab.
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