What does Extract PDF Text do?
Extract PDF Text is a free online tool that can extract all text content from a PDF. The TXT result from Extract PDF Text is a separate copy to inspect before you use it elsewhere. One possible use is authorized passages copied into a text editor.
Text export writes the PDF's existing text layer to a plain-text download. It is useful for searching, quoting authorized material or moving wording into a text editor without carrying over the page design.
This task uses pdftotext and does not recognize photographed letters. If a scan has no usable text layer, you may need OCR before export.
Review how columns, headers and special characters appear in the new text. Text stored inside a PDF can have a different order from the visible page.
A two-column report may mix lines from each column. Use the page image to check reading order.
The plain text does not carry page design. Keep diagrams nearby when they explain a passage you plan to reuse.
Copy readable text from a PDF online: steps
Before using Extract PDF Text, decide what the new copy must contain and where it will be used. Check whether you can choose text in the source PDF and choose a file with a readable text layer. Review the upload area and all values required by the current Extract PDF Text form.
Choose the source
Compare column order with the visible report page. For Extract PDF Text, choose one source from your device. Keep a source copy for another attempt.
Review the form values
The Extract PDF Text form has no extra task settings. Check the source in the file area.
Run the file task
Use Process Extract PDF Text after checking the source and form values. Wait for the job to finish. An error means this attempt failed.
Save and check the output
Compare names, accented characters, paragraph order and the first and last passages with the source. Store the output on your device. Name this copy separately from the original.
Read PDF text: uses for Extract PDF Text
Extract PDF Text can help with reports searched with local text utilities. It can also be used for file wording prepared for proofreading. The TXT result from Extract PDF Text must suit the intended reading or editing step, so keep the source until that check is complete.
- Authorized passages copied into a text editor.
- Reports searched with local text utilities.
- File wording prepared for proofreading.
- Existing text layers checked before an OCR decision.
Formats and limits for Extract PDF Text
The Extract PDF Text form accepts PDF sources. Each Extract PDF Text upload can be up to 300 MB, which equals 300 MiB. The allowed suffixes on the Extract PDF Text page do not prove that a source has valid content inside it.
| Accepted formats | Maximum file size | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 300 MB per file (300 MiB upload limit) | TXT |
Plain text discards typography, images and much of the page layout. Image-only scans may yield an empty or incomplete result without OCR.
How this tool works
Extract PDF Text uses Poppler to handle the source on the server. The Extract PDF Text request uses your chosen input rather than any local editing project left on your device. Check the TXT contents produced by Extract PDF Text before treating them as ready for another app or reader.
For Extract PDF Text, your browser uploads the source to our file-processing server. This is a server task, not local editing.
Files are due for deletion within 1 hour. Cleanup runs during normal service operation. Keep a local download for future use.
Extract PDF Text questions and answers
If Extract PDF Text gives an unexpected result, start by checking the source type and the values used in the form. Check the TXT contents from Extract PDF Text as well as the filename or displayed message. For another result type, compare Extract PDF Text with the separate tools described in these answers.
What matters when using Extract PDF Text?
Read copied names and values against the original wording. View that area at its intended display size. Note any differences that affect your purpose.
Why try OCR PDF?
OCR PDF offers another task beside Extract PDF Text: make a scanned PDF searchable using Tesseract OCR. OCR PDF returns PDF. The stated TXT output from Extract PDF Text is not a listed input type for OCR PDF.
Why try PDF to TXT?
PDF to TXT offers another task beside Extract PDF Text: extract plain text from a PDF document. PDF to TXT returns TXT. The stated TXT output from Extract PDF Text is not a listed input type for PDF to TXT.
Why try Extract PDF Tables?
Extract PDF Tables offers another task beside Extract PDF Text: extract layout-preserving text from PDF tables as TXT. Extract PDF Tables returns TXT. The stated TXT output from Extract PDF Text is not a listed input type for Extract PDF Tables.
What if my TXT result does not open?
For a failed Extract PDF Text result, first confirm that the download completed and that the viewer supports TXT. Try another local viewer for that format.
Record any error message for support. Keep private source material out of the report.
How do I report a problem with Extract PDF Text?
Contact support with the Extract PDF Text page name, source format and the error you saw. Mention any relevant form settings you chose. Do not send passwords or private attachments.