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PDF to Text

Extract every selectable text character from a PDF, page by page, using PDF.js, and save the result as a plain .txt file. Useful for feeding PDF content into other tools, scripts, or AI models that expect plain text, or for creating a searchable archive of document text. Scanned PDFs with no text layer should be run through OCR first.

  • Files never leave your device
  • Runs entirely in your browser
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Frequently asked questions

What about scanned PDFs with no text layer?

Scanned PDFs contain images of text, not real characters. The PDF to Text tool will produce an empty or near-empty file. Use the OCR tool first to add a text layer.

Is the text extracted in reading order?

PDF.js extracts text in the order it appears in the content stream, which usually matches reading order for well-structured PDFs. Complex multi-column layouts may have text in a non-intuitive sequence.

Are headers, footers, and page numbers included?

Yes - all text on every page is included, including headers, footers, and page numbers. You can clean these up manually in a text editor after extraction.

Extract all text from your PDF as a .txt file - free, instant.

Open PDF to Text
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