PDF Tools

PDF Extract Text – Extract Text from PDF Files (Free & Private)

Pull the text out of any PDF, then copy it or download it as a .txt file.

Use this free PDF text extractor to turn a PDF into plain text in your browser. Your document stays on your device, so nothing is ever uploaded.

Your PDF never leaves your device

Drop a PDF here, or choose one.One PDF at a time, up to 100 MB.

Your PDF stays on your device. Nothing is uploaded.

How PDF Text Extraction Works

Most PDFs store their words as real text, hidden behind the way the page looks. This tool reads that text layer page by page, puts the pieces back in reading order, and joins them into lines and paragraphs. Nothing is retyped or guessed, so the result matches what is in the file.

1. Add your PDF

Drop the file onto the upload area or choose it from your device. The tool checks that it is a real PDF and shows its size and page count.

2. Extract the text

Click Extract Text. The tool reads the text layer of every page, rebuilds the lines and paragraphs, and shows the result as it finishes.

3. Copy or download

Copy the text to your clipboard, or download it as a plain .txt file you can open in any editor.

Limitations: Scanned and Image-Based PDFs

This tool extracts text that is already in the PDF. It can't read words from pictures, so a scanned or photographed page gives no result. If a PDF is only partly scanned, you get the text from the other pages and a note about the pages without any.

Scanned PDFs

A scan is a picture of a page, so there is no text inside to extract. Pulling text out of pictures needs OCR, which this tool does not do.

Tables and columns

Text is read in the order it was written into the file. Tables and multi-column pages may need a little tidying after you copy them.

Locked PDFs

A PDF that needs a password to open can't be read. Remove the password with PDF Unlock first, then extract the text.

Extract Text Without Uploading Your PDF

Everything happens in your browser. Your PDF is read and its text is extracted on your own device, so the file and the text are never uploaded, logged or stored on a server. That matters for contracts, bank statements, medical records and anything else you wouldn't want to send to a stranger's website. Close the tab and nothing is left behind.

Supported PDF Types

Text-based PDFs

Documents, reports, contracts, e-books and articles exported from Word, Google Docs, browsers and most other apps, up to 100 MB.

Any fonts and languages

Multiple fonts, accents and non-Latin scripts are handled, as long as the PDF stores real text rather than pictures of it.

Mixed PDFs

Files that mix text pages and scanned pages work too. You get the text that exists and a note about the pages that have none. Rotated pages are fine.

Works on Mobile and Desktop

The tool works in any modern browser on phones, tablets and computers, with nothing to install. On a touchscreen, the text box scrolls with a swipe and you can press and hold to select, and the Copy Text button does the rest. On a computer, you can drag a PDF straight onto the upload area.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I extract text from a PDF?
Add your PDF, click Extract Text, then copy the result or download it as a .txt file. It takes a few seconds, even for long documents.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. The text is extracted in your browser, on your own device. Your PDF is never uploaded, logged or stored, so it is safe to use with private documents.
Why does it say my PDF has no text?
The PDF is probably scanned or made of images, so each page is a picture rather than text. You can check by trying to select words in a PDF viewer: if nothing highlights, there is no text layer to extract. Converting scans to text needs OCR, which this tool doesn't offer.
Will the layout and formatting be kept?
The text, line breaks and paragraph gaps are kept as closely as the file allows. Fonts, colours, images and exact positions are not, because the output is plain text. Tables and columns may need tidying.
Can I extract text from a password-protected PDF?
Not directly. Use PDF Unlock to remove the password first, then extract the text from the unlocked copy.
Does it work with other languages?
Yes. Accents, Cyrillic, Greek and other scripts come through as long as the PDF stores them as real text. The download is saved as UTF-8, so every character is preserved.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. The tool runs in your mobile browser with nothing to install, and the text box scrolls and selects with a finger. Very large PDFs may take longer on older phones.