OCR PDFs on iOS

UPDF has recently introduced its OCR feature in its iOS version, enabling users to extract or copy text from scanned documents. You can then create blank PDFs or open a new PDF and paste the copied text directly into it. Sounds practical, right? If you're wondering how to get started, don't worry—this mini guide has you covered. Alternatively, you can watch the video guide below to learn more about using the OCR feature. Dive in!

Notice

For iOS devices, only those running on iOS 16 or later can access the OCR feature.

1. How to Copy and Paste Scanned Documents Using UPDF OCR Feature?

A lot of people might think that extracting and copying text from scanned documents is challenging, especially on an iOS device. However, this is certainly not the case. UPDF makes this job so much simpler with its easy-to-use interface. All you have to do is follow the simple steps below:

Step 1. Make sure you have installed UPDF for iOS on your device. If not, click the button below.

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Step 2. Start by opening a scanned document or directly scanning a picture of a document:

To open a scanned document, tap on the "+" button in the bottom right corner and select "Files". Follow the on-screen prompts to choose the scanned document from the correct location on your iPhone.
Alternatively, you can select "Photos" and choose an image from your gallery. This will enable you to extract text from it using the OCR feature.
To scan a paper document or image into PDF format, simply select "Scan" and follow the on-screen prompts to capture a picture of the paper document. For more detailed steps, refer to this user guide >>.

Step 3. Once opened, long-press on the opened document for a while and choose OCR.

Step 4. Long-press the screen to select the text you wish to extract, then tap "Copy". Alternatively, you can select "Share" and opt to share the selected text via the Messages or Mail app.

Step 5. Next, create a new PDF or open an existing PDF in order to paste the content.

Step 6. Go to 'Annotate Mode' and choose a 'Text box' to paste the text.

Alternatively, go to 'Edit mode' and select 'Text,' then paste the text.