PDF → Text
Extract text from a PDF.
PDF → Text tool interface
How to extract text from a PDF
Wait for the PDF processor to load
When the page first opens, the tool loads the PDF processor in the background. Wait until the main button no longer shows “PDF Processor Loading…” before uploading your file.
Upload your PDF file
Click the upload button or drag and drop a PDF into the input area. The tool validates the file and checks for size and page limits. If the file is too large or corrupted, an error message will be shown.
Choose extract mode and page range
Use the extract mode controls to choose whether you want text from all pages or only a specific range. For ranges, type values like 1-3,5,8 to extract from selected pages only.
Start text extraction
Click the Extract text button. The status text changes to “Extracting…” while the tool processes each page and decodes the text directly in your browser.
Review and copy the extracted text
When extraction finishes, the right panel shows the extracted text. Scroll through the output to review it, then copy the text or paste it into another document or editor.
Handle errors or special PDFs
If the PDF is scanned or image-only, text extraction may return little or no content. For password-protected or corrupted files, the tool shows a clear error message so you can pick another copy of the document.
Frequently asked questions
Does this PDF to Text tool upload my file to any server?
No. All text extraction happens entirely in your browser using PDF.js. Your PDF never leaves your device, and nothing is uploaded or stored.
Why does the tool say a page has no extractable text?
Some PDFs are scanned images with no embedded text layer. These image-only PDFs contain no selectable text, so extraction returns an empty result.
What does the page range field support?
You can enter ranges like `1-3`, individual pages like `5`, comma lists like `2,4,6`, or mixed patterns like `1-2,5,9-11`. Invalid or out-of-range pages are ignored.
Why is the 'All pages' option limited?
To prevent your browser from freezing on very large PDFs, the tool respects your Max Pages limit (default 50). You can increase this in Advanced Settings.
Why are page numbers added to the output?
If enabled, each extracted page includes a separator like '--- Page 3 ---'. Disable this option in Advanced Settings to output raw text only.
Does this tool support password-protected PDFs?
No. PDF.js cannot extract text from encrypted PDFs unless the full decryption workflow is implemented. Protected PDFs will show an error.
Why does extraction take longer on some PDFs?
Large PDFs or documents with many pages require more processing. PDFs with complex layouts or embedded fonts may also take longer to extract text.
Can I copy or download the extracted text?
Yes. You can copy the extracted content to your clipboard or download it as a .txt file using the provided buttons.
Why does the tool reject non-PDF files?
The tool validates MIME type and file extension to ensure only proper PDF files are processed, preventing decode errors.