PDF tool · Private

OCR PDF: Make Scanned Documents Searchable and Selectable

Recognize text in scanned PDFs so it can be searched and copied. Available in the Rayo PDF GO apps.

Premium feature

or drop the file here

Processed on your device
Never uploaded to a server
No watermarks

See all tools →

How to use OCR PDF in 3 steps

Open the scanned PDF
Tap Recognize text
Save the searchable PDF

OCR PDF: what it is and when to use it

Turn scans into documents with selectable, searchable text.

OCR (optical character recognition) turns the text in an image or scanned PDF into real text you can search, select, and copy. It is what makes a scanned document useful.

In Rayo PDF GO, OCR works in the iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows apps, and it processes on your device. It is not available in the browser for now.

Common uses

Search for words in scanned documents.
Copy text from a photo or a scan.
Create searchable PDFs for archiving.
Reuse content from paper documents.

Tips for better results

Sharp scans give better results.
Choose the correct language of the document.
Review the recognized text before using it.

Why Rayo PDF GO

Truly private

Your files are processed on your device and never uploaded to a server.

Fast

No queues, no waiting for a server.

On every device

iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows and browser.

Free to start

Essential tools are free; Premium unlocks the advanced ones.

Frequently asked questions

Does it work in the browser?

OCR is available in the phone and desktop apps.

Is it free?

It is a Premium feature.

Are my documents uploaded?

No: recognition happens on your device.

More Rayo PDF GO tools

All your PDF tools in one place

Get Rayo PDF GO and take these tools with you, even offline.

Discover the app