How to Translate Scanned PDFs: 6 Effective Ways

It is very easy to find a way to translate Word into any language you need. But it is not easy to translate a PDF, not to say to translate a scanned PDF. If you search around, you will find there are many ways to do this job, however, when you try them, only find they cannot work.

To avoid wasting your time, we tested all methods introduced in the market and listed six effective ways using UPDF here. Therefore, click the button below to download UPDF now.

Part 1. How to Translate a Scanned PDF With UPDF (5 Ways)

UPDF is a powerful tool that simplifies translating scanned PDFs. With its built-in OCR feature and UPDF AI, you can quickly convert scanned documents into editable or selectable formats and translate the content into any language. Download UPDF and start translating your scanned PDFs effortlessly!

UPDF does not only offer one way to do it, it has six methods. You can follow the step-by-step guide below to translate the scanned PDF directly.

Way 1. Translate the Entire Scanned PDF with Layout Retention

If you want to translate the entire scanned PDF into the language you need, you can follow these steps.

Step 1. Import the Required Image-Based or scanned PDF File

Find the UPDF tool on your device. Double-tap to open the tool and select the "Open File" option to import the required PDF file. Explore your device and open the scanned PDF file to convert it.

Step 2. OCR the File to Make It Editable

Now, when you have opened the file, click the "Tools" and hit the "OCR" button. This will ask you to download the OCR features if needed.

Step 3. Customize the OCR Output Result

Following this, you can select three modes: Editable PDF(Dual-layer OCR), Text and Pictures Only, Searchable PDF Only(Dula-layer OCR). Then set the "Document Language," "Page Range," and page number settings. UPDF supports OCR convert documents in 38 languages. Now, click the "Convert" button to start the OCR conversion process. Once the process ends, the OCRed PDF file will open in your UPDF.

Step 4. Translate the Whole Scanned PDF

Right click the page to choose "Translate", and "PDF Translation". Select the target language, then, click on the "Translate" to select the location to save it. Now, UPDF will start translating the whole scanned PDF into your language.

Way 2. Translate Scanned PDF Via Copying and Pasting

UPDF AI is integrated into UPDF. You can also use the copying and pasting method to translate scanned PDFs.

Step 1. OCR PDF

First of all, you need to open PDF, Click "Recognize text using "Tools"> "OCR" > "Convert" to select one place to save the OCRed document. Once it is done, the OCRED PDF will open in the UPDF automatically.

Step 2. Copy and Translate

Now, you can select all the contents you want to translate into the PDF, then, copy them all. Click "UPDF AI", select "Chat", click on "Translate" and choose the language. Then, paste the copied content in the message box and click the "Send" icon to translate all contents to the desired language. This feature also allows you to translate PDFs from Telugu to English, Russian, German, French, Arabic, or Hebrew to English effortlessly.

Way 3. Translate the Scanned PDF with a Screenshot

As UPDF AI supports chatting with images, you can use its screenshot feature to translate the scanned PDF. The guide is simple as you do not need to use OCR feature.

Just open the PDF with UPDF, then, click on the UPDF AI icon, now, go to "Chat" mode, select "Screenshot', draw to select the area you need to translate, enter the prompt "Translate the image into [Language you need]", and press enter. Now, UPDF AI will help you translate.

Way 4. Translate Scanned PDF With Converting

If you wish to convert the scanned PDF into a Word document and subsequently translate it, this method is suitable for your needs. It is also very easy and straightforward.

Step 1. Convert Scanned PDF to Word

You can download UPDF using the button below if you do not have it on your computer. Once it is installed, open PDF with UPDF, OCR PDF with the same steps introduced above, and click "Tools" > "Word" to convert OCRED PDF to Word.

Step 2. Copy All Contents to Translate

You can copy all contents from the word file, then, click "UPDF AI" > "Chat" > "Prompt" > "Translate" > choose the language. Paste the content, and click the second icon to translate the scanned PDF.

You can see it is easy to translate scanned PDF with these methods. You may want to know why to use UPDF instead of other methods. Here are the key benefits of utilizing UPDF for translating scanned PDFs:

• Convert scanned PDFs to a searchable and editable format, enabling post-translation modifications.
• Support translating the entire scanned PDF into the language you need with one click. Also, you can select, copy, and screenshot any part to translate.
• Achieve precise translation of scanned PDFs into any language with the highest level of accuracy.
• Option to convert translations into notes by selecting Way 1 below.
• User-friendly interface, requiring only a few mouse clicks to operate.

Other AI Features of UPDF

Apart from translating scanned PDFs, there are many other features that UPDF provides. These features can prove very beneficial for users worldwide. So, let's have a sneak peek and a little understanding of these various features:

• Summarize PDF: With this feature; users will get to extract key points and essential information from lengthy PDF documents. This will save extensive time and effort in reviewing and comprehending lengthy content.
• Term Explanation: AI integration in UPDF will offer a term explanation, enabling users to obtain instant definitions and explanations for specific terms or concepts. This feature will be particularly useful for users who encounter unfamiliar terminology while reading or studying.
• Write: UPDF will also provide a writing assistance feature. Users will have access to AI-powered suggestions and prompts to help them generate content efficiently. This feature will assist users in composing high-quality written material directly within the PDF editor.
• Rewrite PDF: This particular feature will assist users in paraphrasing or rephrasing sentences or paragraphs within PDF documents. This will be helpful for users who need to reword content while maintaining the original meaning. Or for those who want to improve the clarity and style of their writing.

Try all features on your own now.

Also Read: How to Translate PDF from English to Marathi? (Accurately)

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Part 2. How to Translate Scanned PDF Online via Screenshot and UPDF's Online AI

If you have a scanned PDF and do not want to download UPDF on your device, you can also use UPDF's AI as it can work online. Just follow the below steps:

Step 1. Open the scanned PDF with default software or UPDF. Use the default screenshot feature of your computer to screenshot the content in the scanned PDF. In Windows, you can press "PrtSc" and on Mac, you can use "Command+Shift+4". Once it is done, you can find the screenshot on your computer.

Step 2. Click the button below to visit UPDF's Online AI Assistant. Create an account or log in. Then, click on the "Attachment" icon to upload the image and enter the prompt "Translate the text to Spanish" for example. Now, press enter to translate the image content to the language you need.

Also Read: How to Translate PDFs Online for Free: 3 Step-by-Step Guides

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Part 3. How to Translate a Scanned PDF With UPDF (Mobile)

To translate a scanned PDF on your phone, you can use UPDF for mobile OCR and scanned PDF first, and then select the text in OCRed PDF to translate by using UPDF AI. UPDF for Mobile offers a fast and click-based approach to perform OCR on scanned documents. Follow the steps below to OCR PDF on your phone (Android/iOS):

Step 1. Open the UPDF app on your phone. You can download UPDF Mobile from App Store and Google Play. Click the "+" icon from the bottom right corner and tap "Files" to select the scanned PDF.

Step 2. Click "OCR" from "Quick Tools" or tap "Tools > OCR".

Step 3. Select the scanned PDF file.

Step 4. Under "OCR Recognition Type", choose one of the following options:

• Editable PDF: Turns scans into fully editable PDFs where both text and images can be selected, modified, and moved with preserved original layout. You can even replace images while keeping the page layout intact.
• Text and Pictures Only: Extracts just the words and images from the scan without preserving the page formatting. It is useful when you want a simple file to copy or edit text/images.
• Searchable PDF Only: Keeps the images in the scanned pages as it is, but adds an invisible text layer. It makes the file searchable without allowing text edits.

Step 5. Click "Select PDF Language" and choose the document language. Select multiple languages if the document contains text in more than one language.

Step 6. Configure the "Export to" location to specify where you want to save the OCRed PDF and hit the "Done" button to begin OCR.

Step 7. Wait for the OCR to finish. Once the OCR is completed, go to the "Files" tab and open the newly-generated OCRed PDF. Select the text you want to translate and click UPDF AI button. From the pop-up menu, select Translate into [Target Language], and UPDF AI will automatically translate the text.

Part 4. FAQs on Translating Scanned PDF Documents

Do you still have any concerns related to how to translate a scanned document? Head to the FAQs below and find the answers related to your queries.

Conclusion

In short, translating scanned PDFs to any language with the help of the methods we introduced above can be done easily. However, not every method may meet your needs. Comparing these three methods, we think UPDF is the best one as it is free to use for certain times without any file size and character limitations.

You can download UPDF via the below button to use it and once you use all translation times in the free version, you can upgrade to the pro version at a discounted price.