How Do You Convert a PDF to Text?
You convert a PDF to text by adding it to QuickCatPDF's PDF to Text converter and clicking Convert to Text. The words come back as a plain TXT file in reading order, with paragraphs joined, lists kept and table rows separated by tabs, and you can click Copy text to put it all on your clipboard.
The PDF is read in your browser and never uploaded. It's free, with no sign-up and no watermark.
How to Extract Text From a PDF With QuickCatPDF
Extracting text takes four steps.
- Click Select PDF files or drop your PDFs on the page (up to 20).
- Choose the Layout: Reading order for flowing text, or Keep page layout for columns as on the page.
- Type a range in Pages if you only need part of the PDF.
- Click Convert to Text, then Copy text or download the TXT file.
Reading Order or Page Layout?
The Layout setting decides how the text is arranged in the file.
| Layout | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Reading order | Each paragraph on one line, a blank line between paragraphs, columns read one after another | Reusing, editing or pasting the text |
| Keep page layout | Each PDF line on its own line, indented to roughly where it was | Forms, invoices and columns you want to see side by side |
In our test, a 4-page report converted in under a second: each paragraph that spanned several lines in the PDF came out as one line, the bulleted and numbered lists kept their markers, and the table rows were separated by tabs. A two-column page was read down the first column and then the second.
Can It Read Scanned PDFs?
Yes. Pages without a text layer are read with text recognition (OCR), which runs in your browser. Open Scanned pages (OCR) to choose up to 3 languages from 31, including Hindi, Arabic, Chinese and most European languages. In our test, a 2-page scanned report was read in about 5 seconds, title and lists included.
Some PDFs, especially older Hindi documents, have a broken text layer that copies as random symbols. Tick Hindi under the OCR languages and those pages are read again with OCR.
What Gets Removed?
Remove page numbers, headers and footers is on by default, so lines that repeat at the top or bottom of every page don't interrupt the text. Page markers adds a "--- Page 3 ---" line where each page starts, and Line endings chooses Windows or Mac and Linux style. The file is saved as UTF-8, so every language is kept.
Frequently asked questions
Is PDF to Text free?
Yes, free with no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on the number of PDFs.
How do I copy all the text from a PDF?
Convert it, then click Copy text above the preview. Everything is copied to your clipboard, ready to paste.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No, the PDF is read by your browser and the text file is created there. The tool works offline once the page has loaded.
Can I convert only some pages?
Yes, type the pages in Pages, for example 1-5 or 2, 4, 9.
Can I get the text with formatting?
For headings, bold text and tables, use PDF to Markdown or PDF to Word. Every other format is on the PDF Converter. To listen to the text instead, use PDF to Audio.
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