About Searchable PDF OCR
Recognize English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, German, Portuguese or Arabic scan pages and add an invisible searchable text layer locally.
How to use Searchable PDF OCR
- 1Open Searchable PDF OCR, add a supported media file, and check the processing notice shown in the tool.
- 2Choose the settings and review the preview, waveform or analysis before processing.
- 3Start processing, then download the finished file when it is ready.
How your file is processed
Searchable PDF OCR tells you where processing happens. Browser-only operations keep the file on your device; transcription and server processing upload only the media they need and apply the account limits shown in the tool.
Frequently asked questions
Is Searchable PDF OCR free?
The tool shows its access rules before processing. Browser-only operations are free and need no account; transcription and server processing can require an account and use the limits of your plan.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
It depends on the operation. Browser-only tools keep the file on your device. Auto subtitles uploads only detected speech segments, while server processing uploads the selected file; each tool states this before you start.
Which formats does Searchable PDF OCR accept?
The upload field and output selector show the formats available for that operation. Browser support and the selected codec can affect which output formats are enabled.
Does Searchable PDF OCR work on a phone or tablet?
Yes, on a current version of Chrome, Safari or Edge. Speed depends on the device, so a long clip takes longer on a phone than on a laptop — the tool tells you its limits up front rather than failing part way through.
Why can processing change the file?
Edits that change picture or sound require decoding and re-encoding. A container change or fast keyframe trim may copy packets instead. The tool states which path it uses, because re-encoding can change quality, size or metadata.