Searchable PDF is a browser-based PDF tool on PDFToolsBase. Searchable PDF: free searchable pdf in your browser. No server upload, no signup, no watermark. Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android. To use it, upload or drop your PDF and view the result directly in your browser — no signup and nothing to install.
Run searchable pdf in your browser. Free, private, no signup — your selected files are processed in your browser and are not uploaded to our server.
Turn a scanned document into a searchable, archive-ready PDF. Best for archiving documents you will search later. Example: make a folder of scanned invoices findable by keyword. Before you use: best results come from clear, straight scans at a reasonable resolution.Best for: making an archive findable and searchable. Not ideal for: editing the visible layout.
Make it searchable
Upload a scanned PDF.
Add a hidden text layer.
Search inside the archived document.
Example: turn an archived scan into a document you can search.
Use to build a searchable archive you can find text in later.
Local OCR: The OCR engine, worker, Tesseract core, and English/Hindi language data are served from this site where available. The first run can be slow because OCR data loads into memory. This build supports English, Hindi, and English + Hindi only. OCR quality depends on scan clarity, resolution, contrast, and the selected language.
Advertisements
↑
Drop your file here
or click to browse from your device
Accepts: .PDF
Done
How it works: Tesseract.js (open-source OCR) runs in your browser, reads each PDF page as an image, and recognises the text. The local OCR engine initialises on first run (English/Hindi data served from this site) which is cached after — subsequent OCR jobs reuse the loaded OCR language data and are much faster. Quality depends on the scan resolution (300 DPI gives the best OCR accuracy but is slower) and the selected language. For mixed English/Hindi documents, choose the English + Hindi option.
Advertisements
About this Searchable PDF
Make your scanned PDF searchable with our searchable pdf tool. We use Tesseract.js — open-source OCR engine — to read the text from each page image and output Plain text, Word document (.docx), or a Searchable PDF with an OCR text layer. OCR accuracy and search completeness depend on scan quality, language, and output limits.
Quality depends on scan resolution (300 DPI gives the best OCR accuracy but is slower) and language. Tesseract supports English and Hindi (bundled locally in this build).
Your privacy is the default. Your selected files are processed in your browser and are not uploaded to our server; all processing happens client-side using PDF.js/browser canvas for page rendering, Tesseract.js for OCR, jsPDF for searchable PDF output, and docx for Word output where selected. Closing the tab clears the working session from this page; downloaded files remain on your device.
This tool is free to use with no signup required. Large files may be limited by your browser’s memory and device performance. Part of PDF Tools Base, a privacy-first collection of 161 PDF utilities. Bookmark the page for next time, and explore related tools in the footer below.
Advertisements
How to use the Searchable PDF tool
Drop a scanned PDF that you cannot search into the upload area.
Text is recognised at 200 DPI so the whole document becomes findable and selectable.
Click Process to add the hidden searchable text layer.
Download a fully searchable PDF you can search with Ctrl+F.
Why use PDF Tools Base?
100% Browser-Based
Searchable PDF processes selected files in your browser. Your selected files are processed in your browser and are not uploaded to our server.
No Server Upload, No Signup
Your selected files are processed locally in your browser. No account, no server upload, no email needed.
No Watermark Ever
Outputs are clean. We never stamp our brand or a paywall watermark on your files.
Free to Use
No accounts and no signup. Use the tool as much as you need within reasonable browser limits.
Works on Every Device
Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android, Chromebook. Any modern browser.
Built on Open Source
Powered by browser-side PDF.js rendering, browser canvas, Tesseract.js OCR, jsPDF for searchable PDF output, and docx for Word output where selected.
Common uses for searchable pdf
Archive search
Make stored scans findable.
Text layer
Invisible OCR text over the image.
Stored records
Search contracts and forms.
Keep originals
The page image is preserved.
When to choose Searchable Pdf
This tool is for anyone building a findable archive — turning stacks of scanned documents into PDFs you can actually search later.
Worked example: Years of scanned invoices sit in a folder, none searchable. Make them searchable so a supplier name or amount can be located without opening every file by hand.
Searchable PDF applies the same recognition as OCR PDF with archiving in mind; pick it when long-term findability across many documents is the goal.
Process documents in consistent batches so your archive behaves predictably.
Keep the original scans alongside the searchable versions as a reference copy.
What makes a PDF searchable?
A text layer recognised from the scanned image lets your reader and search tools match words inside the document.
Does making a PDF searchable change how it looks?
No — the visible scan stays the same; a recognised text layer is added behind it so the words can be found.
Frequently asked questions
Is Searchable PDF safe to use?
Yes. Everything happens in your browser. Your selected files are processed in your browser and are not uploaded to our server. Closing the tab clears the working session from this page; downloaded outputs remain on your device until you delete them.
Do I need to register or sign in?
No. No account, no email, no sign-up. Open the page and start using the tool immediately. Free to use, no signup needed.
Is there a watermark on the output?
No. PDF Tools Base never adds a watermark or branding to your output. Your final file is clean — just what you produced from the original.
Is there a file size limit?
There is no fixed limit. OCR renders pages in your browser and loads OCR language data locally, so RAM, page count, selected DPI, language choice, and scan complexity affect what is feasible. Phones may struggle with large or high-DPI OCR jobs; try fewer pages, lower DPI, or a desktop browser.
Does this work on mobile devices?
Yes. The tool works on all modern mobile browsers: Chrome on Android, Safari on iOS, Firefox, Edge, Brave. The drag-and-drop also accepts files from your phone’s file manager.
Why is the first searchable pdf run slow?
English and Hindi OCR data are served from this site (locally bundled in /assets/tessdata/) and cached by your browser. The first run can still be slow because the OCR engine initialises and loads the language data into memory. Subsequent OCR jobs reuse the loaded OCR language data and are much faster.
Which languages are supported?
This browser build includes local OCR data for English and Hindi only. The OCR dropdown is limited to English, Hindi, and English + Hindi.
Related PDF tools
Other PDF utilities in the same category — all free and browser-based.
All product names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of them.