Make a scanned PDF searchable
Many PDFs are just pictures of pages: you can't search them, select a sentence or copy a number. ScanMyPdf reads the text with OCR and adds it to the PDF, right on your device.
Three steps
Open the PDF
Add the scanned PDF to your shelf. If its pages have no selectable text, ScanMyPdf tells you straight away.
Tap Make searchable
Each page is read with optical character recognition (OCR). You'll see progress page by page.
Search and highlight
A searchable copy is saved next to the original. Search finds words inside it, and you can select and highlight text.
Why some PDFs can't be searched
When paper is scanned on a copier or saved from a photo, the PDF holds an image of each page, not the letters themselves. OCR recognizes the letters in the image and places an invisible text layer exactly over them, so the page looks the same but behaves like a text PDF.
OCR that stays on your device
Most online OCR tools ask you to upload the file. ScanMyPdf runs recognition inside the app, which matters for medical letters, contracts, tax forms and anything else you'd rather keep private. It also means it works on a plane.
Best results
Clear, well-lit pages at a normal reading size give the best accuracy. English is supported today, with more languages planned.
Good to know
What is a searchable PDF?
A PDF that contains real text, either from the original document or added by OCR, so you can search, select and copy words.
Will OCR change how my PDF looks?
No. The page image stays the same; the recognized text sits invisibly on top of it.
Are my files uploaded for OCR?
No. Recognition runs on your device, and your documents never reach our servers.