1
Choose the scanned PDF
Add an image-based PDF whose visible words cannot currently be searched or selected.
Private searchable-PDF OCR tool
How to make a scanned PDF searchable
Recognize text in supported scanned PDF pages and add a searchable text layer while keeping the original page image visible in the resulting document.
2
Select the document language
Choose the available OCR language that best matches the printed text in the scan.
3
Recognize the pages
Allow the browser to render supported pages and calculate the invisible text layer.
4
Download and verify
Save the new PDF, search for several known phrases and confirm that copied text is accurate enough for your use.
Key features
What you can do with Searchable OCR PDF
Practical capabilities for this document workflow.
Searchable text layer
Add recognized text behind supported scanned page images so words can be searched.
Original visual appearance
Keep the scanned page visible while the OCR text layer supplies search and selection information.
Language selection
Use the available OCR language options to improve recognition for supported documents.
Multi-page OCR
Process supported scanned documents page by page in one workflow.
Verification-ready output
Search and copy sample phrases after download to check the recognized layer.
Browser-side document work
Run supported page rendering, recognition and PDF generation on your device.
Privacy
Create the searchable layer locally
The current Searchable OCR PDF workflow is designed to process the scanned pages and build the new PDF in your browser. Required OCR model assets may be downloaded, but the source document does not need a Fylvexa OCR backend.
Browser-first
Fast workflow
No desktop app
Frequently asked questions
Searchable OCR PDF FAQ
Select a question to view the answer.
It is a PDF that keeps the scanned page image visible while adding recognized text information that can support searching and text selection.
The workflow is intended to preserve the visible page image and add a text layer. Review the complete output because complex or damaged scans can still produce recognition errors.
Open the downloaded PDF, search for several phrases from different pages and copy sample text to confirm that the layer is present and reasonably accurate.
No. Accuracy depends on scan resolution, contrast, orientation, fonts, language and page complexity. Important text should always be verified.
Not necessarily. Searchability adds recognized text information; it does not recreate the original document as a fully editable layout.
The current workflow is designed for browser-side OCR. The browser may download recognition assets, while the source document remains on your device.
Related tools
Continue your document workflow
Open another Fylvexa tool that works well with this task.