Convert PDF to Text
To convert a PDF to text, choose your PDF below and click "Extract text." The text appears in a box where you can copy it or download it as a .txt file, and the PDF never leaves your device.
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Free, no sign-up. Files are processed on your device and never uploaded.
How to extract text from a PDF
This tool reads the text layer inside your PDF and rebuilds the lines in reading order. It works in any modern browser on a computer or phone, and there is nothing to install or sign up for.
When it finishes, the text is shown in a box on the page. You can copy all of it in one click or save it as a plain .txt file. The file also downloads automatically, and a download button appears in case you need it again.
- Click "Choose a PDF" and pick the file, or drag it onto the drop zone.
- Leave "Mark where each page starts" on if you want page markers in the text, or turn it off for one continuous block.
- Click "Extract text."
- Use "Copy text" to paste it somewhere else, or keep the .txt file that downloads.
How to copy text from a PDF into Google Docs
Many people search for "PDF to Google Docs" when they really want the words in an editable document. The simplest route is to extract the text here, click "Copy text," and paste it into a new Google Doc. You get clean lines without the stray breaks that often appear when you select text in a PDF viewer.
Google Drive can also open an uploaded PDF with Google Docs, which converts it for you. That works, but it means uploading the file to your Drive first. If the document is private, or you only need the text, extracting it in your browser is quicker and keeps the file on your device.
You can also select and copy text directly in most PDF viewers, such as Mac Preview or a browser's built-in viewer. That is fine for a sentence or two. For several pages, this tool is easier because it grabs everything at once and keeps the reading order.
Options: page markers and the text output
The only setting is "Mark where each page starts," which is on by default. With it on, a short marker is added before each page's text, so you can tell where page 3 ends and page 4 begins. This helps when you need to cite a page or check the original later.
Turn it off if you plan to paste the text into an email, a document or a notes app and want one uninterrupted block. The output is plain text, so bold, fonts, colors and images are not carried over. Paragraphs and line order are kept as closely as the PDF allows.
Privacy and limits
Your PDF is processed entirely in your browser on your own device. It is never uploaded to PaperPorter, so you can use the tool for contracts, statements or anything else you would rather not send to a server.
PDFs up to 50 MB are supported. Password-protected PDFs need to be unlocked before the tool can read them.
The tool has no OCR. Scanned PDFs are pictures of pages and contain no text layer, so there is nothing to extract. When that happens, the tool tells you instead of returning an empty result.
Tips for better results
Check whether the PDF has real text. Open it in a viewer and try to select a word. If you cannot highlight anything, the PDF is a scan and this tool will not find text in it.
Expect some cleanup with complex layouts. Multi-column pages, tables and forms are rebuilt line by line. The words will be there, but table cells may run together, so plan to tidy them after pasting.
Use page markers for long documents. For reports and books, keeping the markers on makes it much easier to find a passage again in the original PDF.
Unlock first if you see an error. If the PDF asks for a password when you open it, remove the password in the app you normally use, then try again.
More free PDF tools
Need images instead of text? Use PDF to JPG to save each page as a picture, or Split PDF to pull out only the pages you need. If you want to fill in a PDF rather than copy from it, try the editable PDF tool or browse official permit and government forms that PaperPorter can fill for you. See every option on the PDF tools page.
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Open tool →Frequently asked questions
How do I extract text from a PDF for free?
Choose your PDF on this page and click "Extract text." The text appears in a box you can copy, and a .txt file downloads automatically, with no sign-up.
How do I copy text from a PDF into Google Docs?
Extract the text here, click "Copy text," and paste it into a Google Doc. Google Drive can also open a PDF with Google Docs, but that requires uploading the file to Drive first.
Why can't I extract text from my PDF?
The PDF is most likely a scan, which is a picture of the page with no text layer. This tool has no OCR, so it will tell you when there is no text to extract.
Can I convert a password-protected PDF to text?
Not directly. Unlock the PDF in the app you normally use first, then choose the unlocked copy here.
Is it safe to extract text from a PDF online with this tool?
Yes. The PDF is processed in your browser on your device and is never uploaded to PaperPorter.
Does PDF to text keep formatting?
No. The output is plain text, so fonts, bold and images are dropped, but lines are rebuilt in reading order.