Updated 2026-07-08
How to make a PDF searchable with OCR
Use OCR to add searchable text to scanned PDF documents.
By ClariPDF Editorial Team. Reviewed by Document Workflow Review Desk.
Screenshot placeholder for the workflow described in this guide.
Steps
- Step 1. Upload a scanned PDF.
- Step 2. Choose the document language.
- Step 3. Run OCR.
- Step 4. Search the output and correct recognition errors.
Best for
- Research archives
- Receipts
- Scanned books
- Legal discovery
Limits to know
- OCR may fail on low contrast scans.
- Handwriting and unusual layouts require review.