PDF to Text: Extract Selectable Text Without OCR
PDF-to-text extraction reads characters already encoded in the document; it does not inspect page images or perform optical character recognition.
Read guide →PDF to Text
Extract text from a PDF and download it as a plain .txt file. No upload, browser-based using pdf.js. Works with selectable-text PDFs instantly.
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Reviewed 2026-07-12
Free PDF to Text – how it works
PDF to Text extracts all selectable text from a PDF and saves it as a plain .txt file, entirely in your browser. This is the fastest way to convert a PDF to a text file for copy-pasting into another document, running a word count, feeding content into an AI tool, or making the text searchable outside the PDF viewer.
Text extraction uses pdf.js to read the PDF's text content layer — the same layer that appears when you highlight text in a PDF viewer. The tool collects all text from every page in reading order and concatenates it into a single .txt file separated by page breaks.
This works for PDFs that contain selectable (embedded) text. Scanned documents stored as images require OCR, which this tool does not perform. For scanned PDFs, the output text will be empty or minimal.
How to use PDF to Text online
- Upload your PDF. Drop the PDF into the tool. Processing is local — no file is uploaded.
- Preview the extracted text. The extracted text appears in the preview panel. Scroll to check whether all pages were captured correctly.
- Download the text file. Click Download to save the text as a .txt file. Open it in any text editor, word processor, or code editor.
When to use it
- Convert a PDF report to a plain text file for editing in a word processor or Notion.
- Extract PDF content to feed into an AI writing or summarisation tool.
- Bulk-copy text from a long PDF without manually selecting and pasting page by page.
- Extract contract or legal document text to search with Ctrl+F in a text editor.
Known limitations
- Only works with PDFs that have an embedded text layer (selectable text). Scanned image PDFs return empty or no text — use an OCR PDF tool for those.
- Complex layouts (multi-column, tables, footnotes) may produce text in a different reading order than the visual layout of the page.
- Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked first using the Unlock PDF tool.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a PDF to a text file for free?
Drop your PDF into this tool, check the text preview, and click Download to save a .txt file. No account or upload required.
Why is the extracted text empty?
The PDF is likely a scanned document stored as images with no embedded text layer. This tool extracts the text layer only. Use an OCR tool to extract text from scanned PDFs.
Is my PDF uploaded to extract text?
No. pdf.js reads and processes the PDF entirely within your browser tab. Your PDF file never leaves your device.
What is the difference between PDF to Text and PDF to Word?
PDF to Text saves plain, unformatted .txt output — no fonts, tables, or layout. PDF to Word (a separate tool) attempts to preserve formatting in a .docx file.
Does this work with edit pdf with openoffice alternatives?
If you want to edit PDF content in LibreOffice or OpenOffice, extract the text here first, paste it into a new document, and edit it freely — no need to open the PDF in OpenOffice directly.
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