About PDF to Text
PDF to text extracts the words stored inside a PDF and saves them as a plain .txt file in UTF-8, so Arabic, English and other scripts keep their characters. By default you get a clean flow of text. Tick the layout option to keep columns and tables roughly aligned, and set a first and last page if you only need part of the document.
The tool reads real text only. A scanned PDF is just pictures of pages, so it contains no text to extract, and you will see a message saying that no text was found. OCR is not offered here. Files are uploaded to our server, deleted automatically after 30 minutes, and the result never carries a watermark or needs an account.
How to use PDF to Text
- 01
Upload your PDF.
- 02
Choose whether to keep the layout and which pages.
- 03
Download the text file.
When to use it
- Copy the text of a report into a document without fighting with PDF selection.
- Pull the wording out of a contract or manual so you can search or compare it.
- Extract only the chapter you need from a long ebook by setting a page range.
- Keep columns lined up by using layout mode on a price list or timetable.
- Prepare plain text from a PDF for translation, analysis or note-taking tools.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a PDF to text?
Upload the PDF, optionally tick the layout box or enter a first and last page, then press the button. You download a .txt file with the extracted text. It is free, adds no watermark and does not require an account.
Why is the text file empty or why do I get a no text found message?
The PDF is probably a scan, which is made of images of pages rather than real text. This tool extracts real text only and does not offer OCR, so scanned pages produce no text. PDFs exported from Word or web pages work well.
What does the keep layout option do?
It tries to preserve the position of text, so columns and tables stay roughly aligned with spaces instead of running into one stream. It suits price lists and forms. Leave it off for ordinary paragraphs, where the plain mode reads more naturally.
Can I extract the text of only some pages?
Yes. Enter a From page and a To page to limit the extraction, for example pages 5 to 12. Leave both empty to extract the whole document. You can also fill only one of them to start or stop at a page.
Does it support Arabic text and other languages?
The output is a UTF-8 text file, so Arabic and other languages are saved with their characters. The result depends on how the PDF was created: some older PDFs store Arabic letters in a way that can come out reversed or unconnected.
Are my files safe, and what are the limits?
Files are uploaded to our server and deleted automatically after 30 minutes. Guests can upload up to 10 MB per file and run 15 PDF jobs a day. Free members get 50 MB per file and 150 jobs a day.