PDF to Text Extractor
Pull the text out of a PDF and copy or download it as a .txt file. Extract the whole document or just a page range like 1-3, 5. If the pages are scanned images with no selectable text, the tool detects it and tells you clearly — extraction reads embedded text only, not text inside images (which would need OCR). Everything runs in your browser.
- 100% free
- Private & safe
- Runs in your browser
Your files are processed securely in your browser and are not uploaded to our servers.
Why use PDF to Text?
PDF to Text works on your documents locally, so you get the result in seconds with no watermarks, no sign-up and no files leaving your device.
- 100% private: files are processed in your browser and never uploaded.
- Completely free, with no account, no watermarks and no usage limits.
- Handles Input: PDF; Output: plain text (.txt).
- Add a PDF file.
- Works on any device — desktop, tablet and phone — and is fully keyboard accessible.
What it can do — and its limits
- Extracts embedded (selectable) text, all pages or a chosen range.
- Detects scanned/image-only PDFs and explains that OCR would be needed.
- Copy or download as .txt; runs entirely in your browser.
How to use PDF to Text
- Add a PDF file.
- Optionally enter a page range (for example 1-3, 5); leave blank for all pages.
- Extract the text, then copy it or download a .txt file.
- If the pages are scanned, you’ll get a clear “scanned PDF detected” notice.
Examples
- Copying a quote out of a report.
- Getting an article's text for reuse.
Supported formats & limits
- Input: PDF
- Output: plain text (.txt)
Limitations
- Scanned/image-only PDFs have no selectable text — OCR would be needed (not included).
Frequently asked questions
Can I extract only certain pages?
Yes. Enter a page range such as 1-3, 5, 8-10. Leave the field blank to extract the whole document.
Why did it say my PDF is scanned?
Scanned PDFs are images of pages with no selectable text underneath. This tool reads embedded text only, so when it finds almost no text it flags the file as scanned. Reading text from images requires OCR, which this tool does not perform.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Text extraction happens entirely in your browser; the file never leaves your device.
Why is some text out of order or spaced oddly?
PDFs store text by position, not reading order, so complex layouts (columns, tables) can extract in an unexpected order. Simple documents extract cleanly.