Make PDF Searchable - Add OCR Text Layer to Scans

Add an invisible searchable text layer to scanned PDFs using OCR. The visual appearance is preserved while text becomes selectable, searchable, and copy-able.

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Instant Processing

Browser-Based

Features

Add searchable text to scanned PDFs

Preserves original visual appearance

Text becomes selectable and copy-able

10+ languages supported including CJK

Automatic deskew and image cleanup

Skips pages that already have text

PDF/A-compliant output for long-term archival

Files encrypted during transfer, auto-deleted after processing

How It Looks

Scanned PDF

Searchable PDF

How It Works

Upload your scanned PDF document

Select the document language for best accuracy

Click Make Searchable to process with OCR

Download your searchable PDF with invisible text layer

Common Use Cases

Making scanned contracts searchable for legal review

Enabling text search in digitized archives

Converting image-only PDFs to searchable documents

Preparing scanned documents for accessibility compliance

Enabling copy/paste from scanned receipts and invoices

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'Make Searchable' do?

It uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to detect text in scanned PDF pages and adds an invisible text layer on top of the original images. The PDF looks exactly the same, but you can now select, copy, and search the text.

Will it change how my PDF looks?

No. The original images and layout are preserved exactly as they are. The tool only adds an invisible text layer behind the images, so the visual appearance is identical.

Which languages are supported?

English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Korean, and Arabic are supported. Select the appropriate language before processing for best accuracy.

Does this use AI credits?

No. Make Searchable does not use AI and does not consume any AI credits.

What if my PDF already has searchable text?

Pages that already contain text are automatically skipped. Only scanned/image pages are processed, so existing text is never overwritten.

Can I create PDF/A files?

Yes. Toggle the PDF/A Output option to produce archival-compliant PDFs. PDF/A ensures your document can be reliably reproduced in the future, meeting regulatory and long-term preservation requirements.

Is my file processed securely?

For standard processing, files are handled by the PDFSub Engine - an isolated server with no internet access. When AI mode is selected, files are processed through our AI pipeline. In both cases, files are encrypted during transfer and auto-deleted after processing.