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Extract text

Read text from a local PDF. Runs on this device

Add your files

Your documents are held only in your active browser tab.

PDF files only

Choose a local file to begin.

No upload queue

Your documents are held only in your active browser tab.

No account

There is no sign-in, batch quota, or server file store.

Clear when done

Use the clear control to release task data immediately.

Guide

How to use Extract text

Read the text layer of a PDF, copy it, or download it as a TXT file.
InputOne PDF with selectable text.
OutputA text preview and TXT download.
PrivacyProcessed only in this browser tab.

About extract text from PDF

Read the text layer of a PDF, copy it, or download it as a TXT file. Make a plain-text copy of a document for notes, search, quoting, or reuse without needing to retype the visible text.

Text is read from the layer the PDF already contains, using PDF.js. If a document opens as a flat scanned image with no text layer, run OCR PDF first. Output is plain UTF-8 text with a blank line between pages. Spacing is derived from the positions of text runs in the original, which means multi-column layouts and tables can interleave in ways that read oddly, and formatting, images, and link targets are not preserved.

How PDFolio helps you extract text from PDF

PDFolio reads the existing text layer, then shows a browser preview and provides a TXT download. A scanned page may look readable but contain no selectable text; for image-only scans, use OCR PDF.

If you want an editable Word document (.docx), use PDF to Word. If you want tables exported as rows and columns, use PDF to CSV. If extraction returns nothing because the file is a flat scan, use OCR PDF.

Before you download

Simple paragraphs usually extract cleanly. Tables, columns, headers, and decorative layouts can read as one flow because PDFs store positioned text rather than the original editing structure. Review the preview before relying on the TXT file.

When the result is ready, download it immediately and open it in your usual PDF viewer to make a final check. You can then use Clear task data to release temporary file references from this browser tab. PDFolio does not create an account, cloud folder, or server-side document history.

A private way to extract text from PDF

PDFolio handles the selected files in the active browser tab. A Web Worker on your device performs the PDF task so the interface can remain responsive; document bytes are not sent to a PDF processing server, upload queue, account database, or advertising platform.

Steps

  1. Add a PDF.
  2. Choose Extract text.
  3. Copy the preview or download the TXT result.

Good to know: For image-only scanned PDFs without selectable text, run OCR PDF first.

Frequently asked questions

Why is no text found in my PDF?

The document may be a scan or image-only PDF without a selectable text layer. Run OCR PDF (/ocr-pdf/) first to recognize scanned text.

Can I download extracted PDF text?

Yes. Download the result as a TXT file after extraction.

Can I convert a PDF into an editable Word (.docx) file instead?

Yes. Use PDF to Word (/pdf-to-word/) when you want paragraphs and headings preserved in a .docx document.

Does extract text from PDF change my original file?

No. PDFolio creates a new file for download. Your source file remains unchanged on your device.

Related tools

OptimizeOCR PDFConvertPDF to WordConvertPDF to CSV & ExcelConvertPDF to HTML