PDF to Text

What is PDF to Text?

PDF to Text is a quick tool that pulls out all the readable text from your PDF documents. Instead of retyping content from a PDF, you can extract it in seconds and use it anywhere - in emails, documents, spreadsheets, or any other application.

Why Extract Text from PDF?

There are many situations where you need just the text without the PDF formatting:

• Editing content: You want to modify text from a PDF but cannot edit the original file
• Copying quotes: Pull specific paragraphs from reports or research papers
• Data entry: Transfer information from PDF forms into spreadsheets or databases
• Translation: Extract text to paste into translation tools
• Accessibility: Convert PDF content to plain text for screen readers
• Text analysis: Prepare content for word counts, searches, or text processing

How to Extract Text from PDF - Step by Step

1. Upload your PDF: Click the upload area or drag and drop your PDF file into the tool.
2. Choose pages: Extract text from all pages, or select specific page numbers if you only need certain sections.
3. Select format: Choose "Plain Text" for continuous text that is easy to copy, or "Preserve Layout" to keep the original formatting structure.
4. Click Extract: Press the Extract Text button and wait while we process your document.
5. Use the text: Copy the extracted text directly from the preview, or download it as a TXT file.

Key Features

• Instant extraction: Get your text in seconds, not minutes
• Copy to clipboard: One-click copying for quick use
• Download option: Save extracted text as a TXT file
• Page selection: Extract from all pages or just the ones you need
• Two format modes: Plain text or preserved layout
• Word count: See how many words were extracted
• No signup needed: Use the tool instantly without creating an account

Plain Text vs Preserve Layout

• Plain Text mode: Removes extra spaces and formatting, giving you clean continuous text. Best for copying into documents or emails.
• Preserve Layout mode: Keeps the original spacing and structure. Useful for tables, forms, or documents where position matters.

Tips for Best Results

• Text-based PDFs work best - scanned images may not extract properly
• For scanned documents, you may need OCR (optical character recognition) software first
• If the extracted text looks scrambled, try the other format mode
• Complex layouts like multi-column documents may need manual cleanup

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is some text missing from the extraction?

If your PDF was created from a scanned image rather than typed text, the tool cannot read it. Scanned PDFs need OCR processing first to convert images to text.

Can I extract text from a password-protected PDF?

No, you will need to unlock the PDF first using our Unlock PDF tool, then come back to extract the text.

Will this work with PDFs in other languages?

Yes! Our tool supports text in all languages including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and more. The extracted text will preserve the original language characters.

What is the maximum file size?

You can upload PDF files up to 50MB. For larger documents, try splitting them first with our Split PDF tool.