Extract PDF text online free

Extract text from a PDF to copy or save — free, no signup. Files never uploaded

1 Add file
2 Choose pages
3 Extract & copy

Drop a PDF here to extract text

or click to select — free, in your browser

PDF only · No account · Files stay on your device

How it works

How to extract text from a PDF

Copy searchable text from a PDF without retyping — free, locally processed. Extract the full document or specific page ranges and paste or save as plain .txt.

Pages with a text layer copy instantly; scanned pages use in-browser OCR (English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese — other languages not enabled yet; slower on long documents).

For searchable text vs OCR caveats, see How to extract text from a PDF.

Upload the PDF to Extract text.
Leave Extract from all pages checked, or uncheck and enter ranges like 1-3, 5-8.
Click Extract text and copy from the result or download .txt.

Why browser processing & tips

Why process PDFs in your browser?

Most PDF sites upload your file to a remote server first. That adds wait time, queueing, and means your document passes through infrastructure you do not control. LokaPDF extracts text entirely in your browser — file content is not uploaded to our servers. Plain text is ideal for quotes, notes, and search — formatting is not preserved. The tool works on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, and Android with no install.

Pull citations, archive meeting notes, or grab data from searchable reports.

Tips

For layout and tables, try PDF to Word instead.
Unlock password-protected PDFs before extracting.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Extract text from PDF free?

Yes — copy searchable text free with no account. Export the full document or selected page ranges as plain text you can paste or save as .txt.

Can I extract text from scanned PDFs?

Yes. Pages without a text layer are recognized with OCR in your browser (English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese — other languages are not enabled yet). Multi-page scans take longer; nothing is uploaded to our servers.

Can I copy text from only some pages?

Yes. Uncheck Extract from all pages, then enter ranges like 1-3, 5-8. Only those pages contribute to the copied or downloaded text.

What format is the extracted text?

Plain UTF-8 text — copy to the clipboard or download as a .txt file. Formatting, tables, and images are not preserved; use PDF to Word for editable .docx with richer text (layout is still approximate).

Can I extract text from a password-protected PDF?

Unlock the PDF first with Unlock PDF when you know the password. Extraction runs on the unlocked content locally in your browser.

Does LokaPDF upload my file for Extract PDF text?

No. LokaPDF processes your PDF locally in the browser — file content is not sent to our servers. Your document stays on your device, including on public or work networks.