• Products
  • AI PDFHOT
  • Features
  • Enterprise
  • Resources
  • Comparison
  • Download
  • Pricing
  • Buy & Win
    24 hours left

Save $10 on UPDF Pro Perpetual with AI—Hurry, Offer Ends Soon! Buy Now
UPDF User Guide

Get more info about using UPDF

help center
UPDF for Windows
UPDF for Mac
UPDF for iOS
UPDF for Android

OCR PDFs with UPDF on Windows

The OCR feature by UPDF allows you to convert the scanned text of a PDF document into searchable and editable content. Text on images can also be edited after using this feature which makes the document interactive for users. Click the below button and follow the below text guide or video guide to OCR PDFs.

Windows • macOS • iOS • Android 100% secure

1. How to Download and Install OCR

As you open the respective document, navigate to the "Recognize Text Using OCR" button on the right.

choose OCR option

If you are using this feature for the first time, you will have to download it as a plugin across UPDF. Continue with the process by clicking on the "Download" button across the pop-up window.

download OCR plugin

You will be automatically redirected to the next window, where the progress of the installation of the feature will be displayed. Let the feature install successfully across your Windows device before using it.

OCR plugin installed successfully

2. How to OCR PDFs

Once installed, close the window and navigate to the same button for accessing the OCR tool across UPDF. As it opens up, it will provide you with two different options of Document Type, which include "Searchable PDF" and "Image-only PDF."

  • Searchable PDF: By selecting this option, it will convert scanned PDF documents into searchable and editable documents.
  • Image-only PDF: By selecting this option, it will convert your searchable and editable documents into an image-based PDF document which is neither searchable nor editable.

2.1 Document Type: Searchable PDF

If you go for "Searchable PDF," it will convert your scanned PDF documents into editable and searchable documents.

Layout:

To set this up, you must first decide on a proper "Layout" with the options available in the drop-down menu.

choose a layout option

You will get three different options in setting up the layout of the process:

  • Text and pictures only: The recognized text and pictures will be saved across the PDF document that will be created. The file that is created is also of a smaller size, and its visual structure may differ from the original file.
before and after OCR comparison
  • Text over the page image: This mode is responsible for retaining the background images and illustrations present across the source document across which the OCR is being performed. These files are larger; however, they may differ visually from the original ones.
before and after OCR comparison
  • Text under the page image: For this mode, the PDF images are retained; however, the recognized text is placed under an invisible layer beneath the images. This file type is quite identical to the original PDF file.
before and after OCR comparison

Click on the "Gear" icon to access more Layout Settings that you can define for your file. Here you can specify if you wish to "Keep pictures," while determining the quality between "Low," "Balanced," or "High" to save a file with a smaller size than the original with commendable image and picture quality.

layout settings

Document Language, Image Resolution, and Page Range:

Define a proper "Document Language" with the option of 38 different languages across the drop-down menu. This provides UPDF with a better ground for recognizing text accurately across the document.

select document language

You can also specify proper resolution settings for the images with the "Image Resolution" option. Work over the "Page Range" and click "Perform OCR" to execute OCR across the file with the defined settings.

image resolution

2.2. Document Type: Image-only PDF

If you proceed with "Image-only PDF," it converts your searchable and editable documents into an image-based PDF document which is neither searchable nor editable.

  • Set up the image quality under the "Keep Pictures" section by selecting any of the available options of "Low, Balanced, or High".
image-only PDF
  • Decide if you wish to compress your images using MRC. This mode let you decrease the file size without a loss in quality.
compress images using MRC
  • Provide a proper "Page Range" and click on "Perform OCR" to perform the actions on the document. Select the folder and you will get a scanned PDF document immediately.

It is free to test the OCR feature in the free trial version. But you can only experience and cannot save, copy, and edit the OCRed PDF. To have all the features you need, you can upgrade to pro version.

% OFF
$  
  OFF
You can use this limited time coupon to purchase designated UPDF PRO or AI products.

Get limited
time coupons !

Click to receive and use it
Extra {couponPrice}% off coupon Extra ${couponPrice} coupon

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Continued use of this website indicates your acceptance of our privacy policy.