Free OCR converter
Scanned PDF to Word Converter (OCR)
Turn a scanned PDF into real, editable Word text. AI text recognition reads the page, then rebuilds headings, paragraphs, bullet lists and tables, so you get a document you can edit, not a picture inside Word.
or drop PDFs here · up to 5 files, 4 MB each
- 100% free
- No signup
- No watermark
- Deleted right after conversion
- Works on any device
Why you cannot edit a scanned PDF
A scanned PDF is a photograph of a page. There are no letters inside it, only pixels, so Word has nothing to edit. Many converters hide this by pasting the page picture into a Word file, which looks right but cannot be changed.
To get editable text the words must be read from the image first. That is called OCR (optical character recognition).
What Dilraf PDF rebuilds from a scan
- Headings and paragraphs with sensible sizes, bold and alignment.
- Bullet lists as real Word lists.
- Tables as real tables, including merged cells.
- Logos, photos and stamps kept as pictures while all the text stays editable.
- Right-to-left languages such as Urdu and Arabic, with proper paragraph direction.
- Slightly tilted pages are straightened automatically.
How to get an accurate result from a scan
- Scan at 200 to 300 DPI. Higher is rarely needed and makes the file larger.
- Keep the page flat and evenly lit, with no shadows or glare.
- Fill the frame and keep the text upright. Avoid heavy compression that blurs small print.
- Always proofread names, numbers and dates. OCR is very good on printed text but never perfect.
Mixed PDFs and longer scans
If a PDF contains both normal pages and scanned pages, each page is handled the right way and the result is merged into a single Word file. Scanned PDFs are read up to 20 pages at a time. For longer scans use the page range option, for example 1-20, then convert the next batch.
Privacy for scanned documents
Regular PDFs are processed only on our servers. For scanned pages, an image of each page is sent over an encrypted connection to an AI text-recognition service (Anthropic's Claude) solely to read the text. Files are not kept: they are deleted the moment your Word file has been sent back. Details are in our privacy policy. Please do not upload documents you are not allowed to share with a service provider.
Scanned PDF to Word: frequently asked questions
Is OCR accurate?
On clear, printed pages it is very accurate, but no OCR is perfect. Small print, stamps, shadows and low-resolution scans reduce accuracy, so proofread before you rely on the text.
Can it read handwriting?
It can read some neat handwriting, but results vary a lot between writers. Treat handwritten pages as a rough first draft.
Do I have to pick the language?
No. The text-recognition model detects the language itself, including mixed-language pages.
Will images in my scan be kept?
Yes. Logos, photos and stamps are cropped out and placed in the Word file as pictures, while the surrounding text is converted to editable text.
What if my PDF is part scanned and part digital?
That works. Digital pages use our layout converter, scanned pages use text recognition, and both end up in one DOCX.
Related converters and guides
Urdu PDF to Word
Convert Urdu PDFs and scanned Urdu pages to editable Word with correct right-to-left text. Reads Nastaliq print. No signup, no watermark.
Hindi PDF to Word
Convert Hindi PDFs and scanned Hindi pages to editable Word text. Rebuilds headings, lists and tables. No signup, no watermark, any device.
Arabic PDF to Word
Convert Arabic PDFs and scanned Arabic pages to editable Word with correct right-to-left text. Keeps headings, lists and tables. No signup.
How to edit a scanned PDF in Word
Check if your PDF is scanned, then pick the quickest method.
PDF to Word formatting problems, and how to fix them
Fonts, tables, columns, images and line breaks: causes and fixes.