Wondering how to copy text from PDF? It’s an easy process if you have the right tool and follow the steps correctly.
Sometimes, you need to copy text from a PDF, and it can be for reasons like you want to include a quote from a research paper in your project, or pull out important details from a report for a presentation you are required to make.
It sounds easy to copy text from a PDF, but if the file is locked or has formatting issues, then it will be difficult. In some cases, the text appears as an image, so you can’t select it the normal way unless you have a suitable tool to do the job.
This guide will tell you how to copy text from PDF using easy-to-use tools on your computer or mobile in a few minutes, so read through if you are struggling with something similar and need a way out.
How To Copy Text From a PDF?
Copying text from a PDF is usually not possible unless you have the right means to get it done. There are a few tools, both online and offline, that allow you to make a PDF copyable so you can extract the text needed.
Many of these tools are free to use, while others may have a limit, and once the limit is over, you have to pay to use them further. If you are unsure what tools to use or how to copy text from a PDF, we can help. We have provided the steps of various tools in this section for you to learn and implement them when needed.
Copying Text From a PDF Using Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat is probably the most common tool people use to make a PDF copyable, and it takes just a few steps to complete the steps. You can either use the desktop application or use it online directly from your browser; the choice is yours.
Adobe Acrobat Desktop Application:
If you are wondering how to copy text from a PDF on Mac or PC, install Adobe Acrobat on your device and follow these steps:
- Start by opening Adobe Acrobat on your desktop.
- Now, open the PDF file you want to copy the text from.
- Go to the toolbar and click on Select Tool to enable the text selection mode.
- Copy the text by clicking and dragging the cursor over the passage. If needed, you can also copy text from across multiple pages using the same method.
- Next, right-click on the selected text and click on the Copy option.
- You can now paste the copied text wherever you like.
Adobe Acrobat PDF Editor Online:
If you want to copy text from a PDF online without installing any software or app, follow the instructions given below.
- First, launch a web browser on your device and go to Adobe Acrobat’s official site.
- Upload the PDF file you want to copy the text from. You can upload multiple files if needed.
- Next, you will be asked to sign in; otherwise, you cannot proceed with the steps.
- Once you are logged in, you can copy text and edit the file if you like.
- After everything is done, download and save the annotated file on your device, or you can share it with others as well.
Copying Text From a PDF Using Google Documents
If you are not sure how to copy text from a scanned PDF, using Google Docs is a good idea. It is a simple method and doesn’t take much time to complete.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Navigate to your Google Drive and load the PDF files from which you want to copy the text.
- Right-click on the file you uploaded and choose Open With.
- Your PDF file will get converted into a new Google Document.
- After that is done, you can now copy whatever text you need freely and without any hassle.
Copying Text From a PDF Using Microsoft Word
Many users get confused about how to copy text from a PDF to Word, and if you are one of them, we have detailed the steps in the lines below. Word, being a user-friendly tool, allows you to copy text from well-structured PDFs with ease.
Here’s how:
- The first thing you do is launch the Word app on your device.
- Go to the File option and choose Open.
- Look for the PDF you want to copy the text from in the file explorer section and select Open.
- Word will convert the PDF into a copyable document.
- Once the conversion is done, you can copy the text and paste it into another document as you like.
Copying Text From PDF Images
Now let’s tell you how to copy text from a PDF that cannot be copied. Sometimes, the text is in an image file, and unlike a PDF document, it is not easy to copy text from an image unless you are using a tool that allows it. If you are stuck in such a situation, the OCR PDF tool is the best solution for you. All you need to do is follow these instructions as given.
- Go to Adobe Acrobat online services before opening the image-only PDF you want to convert.
- Under the Convert section, you will find the OCR PDF option. Click on it.
- Choose the PDF and let Acrobat upload it.
- Adobe recognises the text automatically, so you can copy it with ease.
- After you are done, sign in to your Adobe account so you can download and save the converted file.
Copying Text From A Protected PDF
PDFs containing sensitive information often have a password without which you cannot open the file or make any changes. Despite the restrictions, you can still copy the text within using a workaround. To help you out, we have laid down the steps below.
- Start by opening Adobe Acrobat on your desktop.
- Now open the password-protected PDF in the app.
- Go to the File menu and look for Properties. Click on it.
- Next, go to the security tab and choose No Security from the drop-down menu.
- You will see a prompt appear on the screen requesting you to enter the password.
- Type in the correct password before clicking OK.
- Now save the file and make the changes you like.
Copying Text From PDF Using The PDF Word Converter
If you are not sure how to convert a PDF file to Microsoft Word, follow these steps. For this method, you will have to use Adobe Acrobat online.
- Open a web browser and navigate to the online site of Adobe Acrobat.
- Go to the PDF to Word converter page on the site.
- Share your PDF document and log in to your account to proceed.
- Acrobat will convert the PDF file to an editable document.
- Once done, you can download and save the Word file on your device and copy text from it.
How To Copy Text From A PDF Using ILovePDF?
ILovePDF is a handy tool that allows you to copy text from a PDF. If you want to know how to copy text from PDF online and copy text from PDF free, you can use this tool to get the job done.
Here’s how to do it:
- First, go to the ILovePDF website from your web browser.
- Locate the OCR PDF tool on the site.
- Now upload your PDF file from your computer, Dropbox, or Google Drive.
- Choose the main language used in your PDF for better accuracy.
- Click the OCR PDF option to make your file searchable.
- Once it’s done, open the new PDF and highlight the text you want to copy.
- Right-click on the highlighted text and select Copy. Or you can use keyboard shortcuts like Cmd + C on Mac, or Ctrl + C on Windows.
Converting A Scanned PDF To Word Using ILovePDF
You can also use ILovePDF to convert your PDF into an editable Word document. The best part is that you can also do it with both image-only and scanned PDFs that are usually difficult to copy otherwise.
Here’s what to do:
- Launch a web browser and navigate to the iLovePDF website.
- Go to the PDF to Word tool on the site.
- Upload your PDF file and select the OCR option.
- Click the Convert to Word option.
- Now, you will have a fully editable Word file with all the original text ready for you to use.
Making A PDF Searchable Using iLovePDF
When you make a PDF searchable, it allows you to copy text or search for a word in the file without restriction. Once again, you can use iLovePDF for this procedure. Just follow the steps as given, and you are good to go.
- First, open the iLovePDF site on your browser.
- As the site opens, look for the OCR PDF tool.
- Share the PDF on the platform.
- Choose the main languages of the PDF so the conversion is accurate.
- Click on OCR PDF to make it searchable.
- Once done, open the new PDF and navigate to the search bar at the upper right of the file. Now type in the words you want to search.
- You can also use keyboard commands like Control + F for Windows and Command + F for Mac.
Copying Text From a PDF Using Smallpdf
If you are wondering how to copy text from a PDF on a laptop, use Smallpdf because it offers a convenient way to go about the process. It has an OCR tool that helps users copy text from PDF files without hassle.
Here’s what to do:
- Start by navigating to the official Smallpdf PDF OCR online tool.
- Select the PDF file you want to copy the text from, or you can simply drag and drop it into the box.
- Allow the tool to read the text. It will take just a few minutes, so be patient.
- Once it’s over, you can download and save the readable PDF file on your device.
Copying Text From PDF Using Pdfforge
Those who are wondering how to copy text from a PDF on mobile can use Pdfforge for the process. This tool is designed to recognise text in PDFs so users can copy and paste it wherever they want.
Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Open Pdfforge on your phone or computer. You can use any web browser to access the site.
- Next, upload the PDF file from which you want to copy the text, or drop it in the required box.
- Wait for a few minutes, and you will see the file is ready to download.
- Now you can copy the text from the file and paste it into another document.
How To Copy Text From a PDF Online For Free?
If you are looking for a free online tool that will help you copy text from a PDF, Xodo is what you should use. It offers a PDF editor that can get the job done in a few simple steps.
- Open a web browser of your choice and visit Xodo’s online PDF editor.
- Once the site opens, upload the PDF file.
- Select the text you want to copy and choose the Copy Text option from the menu.
- Hit Command + V on Mac or CTRL + V on Windows to paste the text where you want.
Final Words
Learning how to copy text from PDF doesn’t have to be difficult if you know the right tools and steps. Be it a scanned file, an image-based PDF, or even a password-protected document, you can use the solutions outlined in this guide to convert a PDF into a copyable format. So, the next time you are stuck, just choose any of these tools and you are good to go.
FAQs
How do I copy text from a PDF file?
You can use Adobe Acrobat to copy text from a PDF file both online and offline.
Why can’t I copy text from a PDF?
You cannot copy text from a PDF if it is a scanned image or is protected by a password.
How can I extract text from a PDF?
You can extract text from a PDF by using an OCR software if it is a scanned image or non-selectable text.
How do I copy text from a PDF to Word?
To copy text from a PDF to Word, you need to convert the PDF file into an editable or copyable format.
Why can’t I select text in a PDF?
You cannot select text in a PDF if it is a part of an image, or the reader’s settings prevent it.
How to convert a PDF to readable text?
With the help of tools like Adobe Acrobat or PDFforge, you can convert PDF files into readable text.
How to convert a PDF to Word?
You can use Adobe Acrobat, Online2PDF, or similar tools to convert a PDF into a Word document.
How to extract handwritten text from a PDF?
To extract handwritten text from a PDF, you will need to use an OCR app or software.
How do I edit a PDF to Word?
To edit a PDF to Word, you need to first convert the PDF into a Word document.
Can we convert a PDF to Word for free?
Using Xodo’s online PDF editor, you can convert a PDF to Word for free.
Can Google convert a PDF to Word?
Google can convert PDF files to Word documents through Google Docs.
