How do I make a scanned PDF searchable online for free?

Go to ClearwayPDF, click the OCR tab, upload your scanned PDF, and click Start OCR. The tool adds an invisible searchable text layer and you download the result.

OCR stands for Optical Character Recognition. It reads the text in scanned images within your PDF and adds an invisible text layer, making the document searchable and selectable.

Which languages does the OCR support?

ClearwayPDF uses Tesseract OCR which supports over 100 languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and many more.

Does OCR change how the PDF looks?

No. The OCR process adds an invisible text layer on top of the existing page images. The visual appearance of the PDF does not change.

Are my files uploaded to a server for OCR?

No. OCR is powered by Tesseract.js running entirely in your browser. Your PDF never leaves your device.

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PDF OCR

PDF OCR Online Free — Make Scanned PDFs Searchable

Turn scanned and image-based PDFs into searchable, selectable documents. Powered by Tesseract — runs entirely in your browser. No upload, no account.

Run OCR on a PDF →

How it works

Three steps, done.

Step 1

Open the OCR tab

Go to ClearwayPDF and click the OCR tab at the top of the page.

Step 2

Upload your scanned PDF

Drag your image-based or scanned PDF into the upload area.

Step 3

Download searchable PDF

Click Start OCR, wait for processing, then download your searchable PDF.

What you get

Everything included, nothing locked

100+ languages supported

Tesseract OCR recognises English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and over 100 other languages.

Invisible text layer

OCR adds a hidden text layer over your pages. The PDF looks identical — but the text is now searchable and copyable.

Works on any scanned PDF

Works on PDFs from scanners, cameras, fax machines, or any image-based source.

Fully private

Tesseract runs in your browser. Your scanned documents never leave your device.

No account needed

Start running OCR immediately without signing up or providing personal information.

Free and unlimited

No page limits, no daily caps. Run OCR on as many documents as you need.

Why ClearwayPDF

Free, private, no strings attached

No subscription or paywall
No file uploads — fully private
No watermarks on output
No account or login needed
100+ languages supported
Completely free, forever

Try it free →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a scanned PDF searchable for free?: Go to ClearwayPDF, click the OCR tab, upload your scanned PDF, and click Start OCR. Download the searchable result.
What is PDF OCR?: OCR (Optical Character Recognition) reads text in scanned page images and adds an invisible searchable text layer to the PDF.
Which languages does the OCR support?: ClearwayPDF uses Tesseract which supports 100+ languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese.
Does OCR change how the PDF looks?: No. The text layer is invisible — the PDF looks exactly the same, but the text is now searchable and selectable.
Are my files uploaded to a server?: No. Tesseract.js runs entirely in your browser. Your files never leave your device.