OCR PDF
Make a scanned PDF searchable and selectable — and straighten skewed pages — free.
Drop your file hereTap to add your file
or click to choose · sent securely, deleted right after
Private by design. Your file is sent over an encrypted connection, processed in an isolated sandbox with no internet access, then deleted the instant it’s done. We never store it or read it. How this works
OCR PDF reads the text in a scanned document and adds an invisible, searchable text layer behind the image. The page looks exactly the same, but now you can select, copy and search the words — and Ream straightens skewed pages as it works, so crooked scans come out straight.
Recognising text needs a real OCR engine, so this runs on Ream’s hardened server: your file is sent over HTTPS, processed in an isolated sandbox, and deleted immediately afterwards. It handles English and German, and it’s free, with no sign-up and no watermark.
How it works
Ream looks at each scanned page, recognises the letters and words, and writes them as a hidden text layer aligned with the image — while deskewing the page so the text sits straight. Pages that already contain text are left untouched, so nothing that was already searchable is changed.
How to OCR PDF
Add your scanned PDF
Drop the file onto the box above or click to browse.
Choose the language
English, German, or both — matching the document improves accuracy.
Download the searchable PDF
Save the result — it looks identical but is now searchable. The file is deleted from the server straight after.
What OCR does — and why it matters
A scan is a photo of a page: the words are pixels, so you can’t select or search them. OCR recognises those shapes as text and stores them invisibly behind the image. Afterwards the page looks the same, but Ctrl+F works, you can copy quotes, and tools like PDF to Text and PDF to Word can finally read it. Ream also deskews — straightening pages that were fed in at an angle.
Tips for accurate results
When you’ll use it
Why choose Ream
Searchable and selectable
Adds a hidden text layer so you can search, select and copy — while the page looks unchanged.
Straightens skewed pages
Deskews crooked scans as it works, so the finished document sits straight.
Processed, then deleted
Sent over HTTPS, handled in an isolated sandbox, and deleted immediately after.
Free, English & German
No account, no watermark — recognises English and German text.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a scanned PDF searchable?
Add the scan, choose the language, and click Run OCR PDF. You download a PDF that looks the same but is now searchable and selectable.
Does OCR change how the page looks?
No. The text layer is invisible and sits behind the image, so the page looks identical — it just becomes searchable. Skewed pages are straightened.
Which languages are supported?
English and German, individually or together. Matching the language to the document improves accuracy.
What if the PDF already has text?
Pages that already contain text are skipped, so existing searchable content is left untouched.
Is this processed in my browser?
No — OCR runs on a hardened server. Your file is sent over HTTPS, processed in isolation, and deleted immediately afterwards.
Is my file stored anywhere?
No. It is deleted immediately after processing.