Convert a PDF to text
Copy the words out of a PDF, including PDFs made from scans.
This tool is almost ready
We are finishing it now. The guide below shows how it will work.
How do I copy text from a PDF that will not let me select it?
Open FilesAll's PDF to text tool and add your PDF. If the PDF already holds text, FilesAll reads it directly and exactly. If it is a scan, FilesAll recognizes the printed words page by page. Copy the result or save it as a .txt file. It all runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.
How to convert a PDF to text in 3 steps
Add your PDF
Press Choose files, or drag your PDF onto the page.
Check the language
The language of this site is picked for you. Choose another if your document is in a different language.
Copy or download the text
Press Copy to copy all the text, or Download to save it as a .txt file.
Frequently asked questions
Why can I not select the text in my PDF?
Your PDF is probably a scan, which is a picture of a page with no real text in it. FilesAll recognizes the printed words in the picture and turns them into text.
Is a normal PDF read differently from a scan?
Yes. When a PDF already contains text, FilesAll reads it directly. That is instant and exact, with no guessing.
Will the layout be kept?
Paragraphs and line breaks are kept. Tables, columns and fonts are not rebuilt, so the text comes out as plain lines.
What if my scan is crooked or blurry?
Tilted pages are straightened automatically. If a page is too blurry to read well, FilesAll suggests trying a sharper scan or photo.
Can it read a long scanned document?
Free use covers a set number of scanned pages per document. Pro reads scans of any length. PDFs that already contain text are read directly.
Can I keep the look of my scan and still search it?
Yes, with Searchable PDF. It saves a PDF that looks like your scan, with text you can search and copy. Saving that PDF is part of Pro.
Is FilesAll free?
Yes. You can use FilesAll free every day without signing up, and the tool shows how many free files you have left today. A free account gives you more each day, and Pro removes the daily limit.
Do I need to install anything?
No. FilesAll works in the web browser you already have, on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iPhone and Android. There is nothing to install, and you do not need an account to start.
Are my files uploaded?
No. FilesAll does all the work inside your browser, on your own device. Your files are never sent to our servers or anyone else's, and they disappear when you close the tab.
Want to check for yourself? Your browser's developer tools list every request this page makes. None of them carries your file.