PDF to Text Converter
Extract all the text from your PDF into a plain .txt file. Preview it, copy it, or download it. Your file never leaves your device.
Free to use · Works on any device · Files auto-deleted after processing
Drag and drop here or
File must be a PDF
and size up to 15MB.
How it works?
Upload your file
Drag and drop your .pdf file, or browse from your device.
Convert
Text is read from every page and kept in reading order, line by line.
Copy or download
Copy the text from the preview or save it as a .txt file.
Why choose our PDF to Text converter?
Plain, universal output
A UTF-8 .txt file opens in any editor on any device.
Line breaks kept
Text is grouped by line so paragraphs stay readable.
Instant preview and copy
Check the result and copy it without downloading.
Fully private
Text is extracted in your browser. Your PDF is never uploaded.
100% free
No hidden fees, no watermark, no signup.
Works everywhere
Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, or Linux. Any modern browser works.
Why convert PDF to text?
Plain text is the easiest format to search, analyse, translate or paste into another system. Pulling the text out of a PDF saves retyping and makes it simple to reuse content in notes, spreadsheets, code or AI tools.
Extract text from a PDF into a TXT file
The PDF to Text converter reads the text layer of your document and returns it as a clean .txt file. Characters on the same line stay together and pages follow each other in order, with optional page separators.
You can preview the result and copy it straight to the clipboard, or download the file. Because the work happens in your browser, your document stays private.
Quick tips
- Turn page separators on to find where each page starts.
- Use OCR first for scanned documents.
- Choose PDF to Word if you need to keep formatting.
Everything you need to know about converting PDF to text
How do I convert a PDF to a TXT file?
Upload your PDF, choose whether you want page separators, and click Convert to Text. You can read and copy the result on screen or download it as a plain .txt file. The whole process happens in your browser, so there is nothing to install.
Plain text is the simplest format there is. It opens in any editor on any device, it is easy to search, and it can be pasted straight into an email, a spreadsheet cell or a content management system.
How do I copy text from a PDF I cannot select?
Some PDFs let you highlight words and some do not. If you can select text in your viewer, this tool will extract it. If you cannot, the file is most likely a scan: every page is a picture, so there is no text to copy.
For scans, run the file through the OCR PDF tool first. It recognises the letters and adds a text layer, and then this converter can pull the text out.
What happens to tables, columns and formatting?
A text file has no bold, italics, images or tables. The tool groups words into lines by their position on the page and keeps line breaks, but columns and tables are flattened into lines of text. Multi-column layouts may read across the columns instead of down them.
If you need to keep tables as tables, the PDF to Excel tool is a better fit. For editable formatted text, use PDF to Word.
Why is some text missing or garbled?
A few PDFs use custom fonts or encodings that do not map back to normal letters, so copied text can come out as symbols. Text that is actually part of a picture is also not extracted. In these cases OCR usually gives a cleaner result.
Popular ways to use it
Research and quotes
Pull passages out of a paper or report so you can quote, annotate or search them.
Data and content migration
Move text from old PDF manuals into a website, wiki or knowledge base.
Feeding other tools
Create clean text input for translators, summarisers, spell checkers or word counters.
Accessibility
Turn a document into plain text that screen readers and large-text settings handle easily.
Quick searching
Search a long PDF with any text editor, or compare versions with a diff tool.
Troubleshooting and common problems
I get the message that no text was found.
The PDF is probably a scan. Use the OCR PDF tool to add a text layer, then convert it again.
The words are in the wrong order.
This usually happens with multi-column layouts. Try copying one column at a time, or split the pages first.
Letters appear as strange symbols.
The PDF probably uses a custom font encoding. OCR often produces cleaner text for those files.
The tool says the PDF is password protected.
Unlock it first with the Unlock PDF tool, then convert it to text.
Good to know
- Text layer
- A real PDF stores the actual characters. If you can search or highlight words in it, it has a text layer and will convert.
- Page separators
- Turn them on to mark where each page begins, which helps when you need to find the source page later.
- UTF-8 encoding
- The file is saved as UTF-8, so accented letters and non-Latin scripts are kept when your editor reads it as UTF-8.
- Stays on your device
- The text is extracted in your browser and the preview and download are created locally.
Who uses this tool?
Researchers and students
Copy passages and quotes from papers.
Developers and analysts
Feed document text into scripts or tools.
Translators and writers
Move content into editors and translation software.
Anyone
Grab the words from a PDF without its layout.
Supported formats
| Input | Output |
|---|---|
| .txt |
FAQs
Is PDF to Text free?
Yes. It is free to use with no signup and no watermark.
Does it work on scanned PDFs?
Scans contain pictures of text, not text. Run the file through the OCR PDF tool first, then convert it to text.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The text is extracted inside your browser.
Will tables and columns keep their layout?
The output is plain text, so complex layouts are flattened into lines. For tables, try PDF to Excel instead.
Which encoding is the text file?
UTF-8, so accented and non-Latin characters are preserved.
How do I copy text from a PDF that will not let me select it?
If it is a scan, run OCR on it first. Otherwise convert it with this tool and copy from the preview.
Can I convert PDF to TXT without installing software?
Yes. Upload the file, convert, and download the text file in your browser.
How do I extract text from a PDF into Notepad or TextEdit?
Convert the PDF here, download the .txt file and open it in Notepad, TextEdit or any other editor.
Can I extract text from only some pages?
The tool converts the whole file. To limit it, cut the pages you need first with the Split PDF tool.
Is PDF to TXT the same as PDF to Word?
No. TXT keeps only plain text, while Word keeps headings, images and layout in an editable document.
Does it extract text from images inside a PDF?
No. Text that is part of a picture needs OCR. Use the OCR PDF tool first.
Can I copy the text without downloading a file?
Yes. After converting, use the Copy button in the preview to put the text on your clipboard.