Scanned PDF to Word (OCR)
OCR for scans & photocopies
Drop your file here
or pick it from your device
Files stay on your device — nothing is uploaded. Scanned PDF or image up to 25 MB.
About Scanned Doc to Word
A scanned document is just a picture of text. HogPDF runs OCR (optical character recognition) on each page to read it, lets you correct the text, then builds an editable Word document (.docx) — all in your browser, so your scan is never uploaded.
How to convert a scanned PDF to Word
- 1
Upload your scan
Drop a scanned PDF, or a JPG, PNG or TIFF image (up to 25 MB), onto the page or choose it from your device.
- 2
Choose the language
Pick the language the document is written in so the text is read correctly.
- 3
Run OCR
Click Run OCR. Multi-page PDFs are read page by page, so longer scans take longer. The first run also downloads the OCR engine and language data.
- 4
Review and correct the text
Fix any mistakes in the text box. OCR is good, but it isn't perfect.
- 5
Build and download your Word file
Confirm the text and we'll build a .docx you can edit and reuse.
What you can do
Scanned PDFs and images
Handles scanned PDFs as well as scanned or photographed pages saved as JPG, PNG or TIFF.
OCR in 14 languages
English, Swahili, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Dutch, Arabic, Hindi, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Amharic and Somali.
Correct before you export
Review the recognised text and fix mistakes before the Word file is built.
Whole documents
Every page of a multi-page scan is read and combined into one document.
Private by design
Your scan stays in your browser. Only the OCR engine and language data are downloaded, never your file.
Nothing to install
Open the page, drop in a file and go. There's nothing to download, and you don't need an account.
Good to know
- The result is plain text in a Word file. Layout, columns, tables and images aren't recreated, and page boundaries aren't kept.
- Accuracy depends on scan quality. Straight, sharp, high-contrast scans work best.
- Handwriting isn't recognised reliably.
- Long scans can take a few minutes because every page is read in your browser.
- If your PDF already has selectable text, use PDF to Word instead — it's faster and doesn't need OCR.
- Password-protected PDFs need to be unlocked first with Unlock PDF.
- Files up to 25 MB are supported.
Scanned PDF to Word FAQ
- How do I convert a scanned PDF to Word?
- Upload the scan, choose its language, click Run OCR, correct any mistakes and build your Word file. It all runs in your browser.
- Which languages does the OCR support?
- English, Swahili, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Dutch, Arabic, Hindi, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Amharic and Somali.
- Is my scan uploaded?
- No. The text recognition runs in your browser. The only things downloaded are the OCR engine and the language data for the language you choose — never your file.
- How do I know if my PDF is scanned?
- Try selecting the text with your cursor. If you can't, or the whole page highlights as one block, it's a scan and you need OCR.
- Will it keep the layout of the original?
- No. You get the recognised text as plain text in a .docx. Layout, columns, tables and images aren't recreated.
- Can it read handwriting?
- Not reliably. The OCR is designed for printed text.
- How large can the file be?
- Up to 25 MB.