How Do You Convert Images to a Searchable PDF?
You convert images to a searchable PDF by adding them to QuickCatPDF's Image to Searchable PDF tool, ticking the language of the text, and clicking Make searchable PDF. Each photo or scan becomes a PDF page that looks exactly the same, with an invisible layer of real text behind it, so you can search, select and copy the words.
The text is read in your browser and the images are never uploaded. It's free, with no sign-up and no watermark.
How to Make a Searchable PDF From Photos With QuickCatPDF
Making a searchable PDF takes four steps.
- Click Select images or drop your photos and scans on the page.
- Tick the Text languages in the images (up to 3).
- Choose the Page size and whether you want One PDF or One PDF per image.
- Click Make searchable PDF, then download the PDF.
What Does "Searchable" Mean?
A normal photo of a page is just pixels: you can't search it or copy from it. Text recognition (OCR) reads the letters in the picture, and the tool places the recognised words, invisibly, exactly over the words in the picture. The page looks unchanged, but Ctrl+F finds words, you can select and copy text, and search tools and archives can index the file.
In our test, a scanned report page became a searchable PDF in about 3 seconds, including starting the text recognition engine, and its title and list items could be found and copied. Three images (a JPG, a WebP and a sideways phone photo) became a 3-page searchable PDF in about 5 seconds, with the sideways photo turned upright first.
Which Images and Languages Work?
JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, TIFF (every page), GIF, BMP and AVIF images are accepted. Text can be read in 31 languages, including English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Urdu, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and most European languages. The invisible text works for every script, so a Hindi scan can be searched in Hindi.
For the best results, use sharp, well-lit photos taken straight on, with the text at least as large as normal print. Very small or blurred text may be missed.
How Big Is the Page?
Fit to image makes each page the size of its picture, using the resolution saved in the file or, when there isn't one, treating the picture as a page about 11 inches tall. A4 and Letter put each picture on standard paper, turned to match the picture. Image quality controls the file size: High keeps detail for printing, Balanced and Small make lighter files for email.
Phone photos of documents can also be straightened and cleaned first on Scan to PDF, and a finished searchable file can be archived with PDF to PDF/A.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free?
Yes, free with no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on the number of images.
Are my images uploaded?
No, the text is read in your browser. The first time you use a language, its reading data downloads from this site; after that it's cached.
Can I combine many photos into one searchable PDF?
Yes, add up to 100 images and keep One PDF; use the arrows to set the page order.
What if no text is found?
You still get the PDF, and the result tells you no text was found. Check that the right language is ticked, or try a sharper photo.
Can I make an existing scanned PDF searchable?
Use Scanned PDF to Word for editable text, or PDF to Text to extract it. For images without OCR, Image to PDF is quicker.
Last updated: