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Scanned PDF to Word (OCR)
Convert Scan to Editable DOCX • Fix “Can’t Select Text”

If your PDF is a scan (image-only), a normal “PDF to Word” converter often fails. The fix is OCR: recognize the text first, then convert to Word.

OCR is capped to the first 500 pages for speed. For longer files, split the PDF and OCR only the pages you actually need.

Upload Scanned PDFHow it works (2-step)

What you get from OCR → Word workflow

  • Convert scanned (image-only) PDFs into editable Word content using OCR
  • Fix “can’t select text” and “Ctrl+F doesn’t work” PDFs by adding a real text layer first
  • Best workflow: OCR → download searchable PDF → convert to Word (DOCX) with PDF to Word tool
  • Choose the correct language for higher OCR accuracy (especially accents and lookalike letters)
  • Fast processing: OCR is capped to the first 500 pages — split PDFs to OCR only what you need
  • No watermark on output
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Why scanned PDFs won’t convert to Word (until you OCR)

Many “PDF to Word” failures happen because the PDF is not real text — it’s a photo/scan. OCR converts that image into text first, then Word conversion becomes editable.

My PDF is a scan — I can’t edit anything

Scanned PDFs are usually just images inside a PDF. Word can’t edit images as text. OCR recognizes characters and rebuilds text first.

Ctrl+F doesn’t work / can’t copy text

If search and copy fail, the PDF probably has no text layer. OCR creates one so Word conversion becomes possible.

Text comes out wrong or messy

Accuracy depends on scan quality + correct language selection. Blurry scans, shadows, skew, and tiny text reduce OCR accuracy.

If you only need a searchable PDF (not DOCX), use Make PDF Searchable.

Fastest scanned PDF → Word workflow (500-page OCR cap)

Don’t OCR a whole book if you only need a chapter. Extract the pages you need, OCR the smaller file, then convert to Word.

Split the PDF first

Use Split PDF to keep only required pages (faster OCR + stays under the cap).

Compress huge scans

If your PDF is very large in MB, run Compress PDF to speed uploads and processing.

Need text extraction only? Use PDF to Text.

How to convert scanned PDF to Word (OCR) — 2-step method

  1. 1) OCR the scanned PDF (create a real text layer)

    Upload your scanned PDF above. If it’s longer than 500 pages, split it and OCR only the pages you need.

  2. 2) Choose the correct language (recommended)

    Selecting the right language improves OCR accuracy, especially for accents and similar-looking characters.

  3. 3) Convert OCR’d PDF to Word (DOCX)

    Once OCR finishes, convert the searchable PDF into Word using PDF to Word. This produces an editable Word document instead of a scanned image.

Make the Word output cleaner (OCR accuracy + layout tips)

Accuracy tips (big wins)

  • Select the correct language before OCR.
  • Avoid blur, shadows, and skew; rotate/deskew if needed.
  • If text is tiny, a higher-quality scan usually helps.
  • Low-contrast pencil/gray text may OCR poorly compared to dark ink.

Supported: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian

Tables/forms/columns

OCR is strongest at recognizing characters. Complex layouts may need cleanup after conversion. If your scan is mostly tables, you may prefer exporting to Excel for easier structure cleanup.

For editing text-based PDFs directly (not scans), use Edit PDF.

Common reasons people convert scanned PDFs to Word

Edit scanned contracts & letters

OCR the scan, convert to Word, then edit names, clauses, dates, and signatures placeholders.

Reuse content from old documents

Extract text from old manuals, invoices, and archives instead of retyping everything.

Security & privacy

OCR requires processing your document to recognize text. If you’re testing, use sample PDFs or redact sensitive data. Review policies for retention/deletion details.

Privacy checklist

  • Avoid uploading extremely sensitive documents.
  • Use trusted networks and keep your browser updated.
  • Read Privacy and Terms.

FAQs

How do I convert a scanned PDF to an editable Word document?

Use the 2-step method: (1) run OCR on the scanned PDF to create a searchable text layer, then (2) convert that OCR’d PDF to Word (DOCX). This avoids retyping and makes the content editable.

Why can’t I convert scanned PDF to Word directly?

Because scanned PDFs are images. Without OCR, there’s no real text to convert. OCR turns the image into text first, then Word conversion works.

Will the Word file keep the same layout?

Simple documents usually convert well. Complex layouts (tables, multi-column pages, forms) may need cleanup after conversion. OCR focuses on text recognition; layout fidelity depends on the document.

Is there a page limit?

Yes — OCR is capped to the first 500 pages for fast processing. If your PDF is longer, split the PDF and OCR only the pages you need.

Do I need to choose a language?

It’s optional, but selecting the correct language usually improves OCR accuracy—especially for French/Spanish/Portuguese accents and similar-looking characters.

What if I only need the text (not a DOCX)?

If you only need editable text, you can OCR and then copy the extracted text into Word. If you want a real DOCX, OCR first and then use the PDF to Word converter.

Related tools

Build the fastest “scan → editable” workflow using these tools:

Convert scanned PDF to editable Word content now

OCR first (text layer), then convert to Word (DOCX). If your file is long, split pages first to stay under the OCR cap.

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