intermediate6 min readUpdated August 31, 2026
By PDFilio Editorial Team
How to OCR a PDF and Extract Text from Scans
Learn when OCR is useful, how to process a scanned PDF, and how to verify recognized text.
# How to OCR a PDF and Extract Text from Scans
OCR, or optical character recognition, converts visible characters in document images into machine-readable text.
## Steps
1. Open the PDF OCR workflow.
2. Upload the scan you are authorized to process.
3. Start recognition.
4. Review the recognized text or searchable output.
5. Correct important names, numbers, dates, and table values against the original.
## When OCR struggles
Low-resolution scans, skewed pages, handwriting, complex tables, stamps, and noisy backgrounds can reduce accuracy. OCR is a convenience, not a substitute for checking important source documents.