Image to text

Copy the words out of a photo, screenshot or scanned page. Text recognition runs in your browser, so private documents never leave your device.

Uploaded to servers0 B
Processed locally0 B
Output format

Recognition runs on your device and takes a few seconds per page. The language model (1–3 MB) downloads the first time.

Why your files stay on your device

Nothing is uploaded

Most online PDF sites send your file to their servers. PDFMoss does the work inside your browser, so there is nothing to intercept, store or leak.

No limits on uses

There are no daily caps because there are no servers doing the work. Use any tool as often as you like.

Works on your phone

Every tool works on iPhone and Android: pick photos from your gallery and sign with your finger.

Original quality, works offline

Pages and images keep their quality, and once you install the app the tools work without an internet connection.

How to get text from an image

  1. Drop one or more images on the page or choose them from your gallery.
  2. Choose the language; Text (.txt) is already selected.
  3. Click Recognize text and download the text file.

Frequently asked questions

Which images work?

JPG, PNG, WebP, BMP, GIF and TIF. Photos taken straight on, in good light and in focus give the best results.

Can I get a PDF instead?

Yes. Choose Searchable PDF to keep the image and add selectable text on top.

Is handwriting recognized?

Mostly not. OCR is made for printed text; neat block letters may work, joined-up handwriting usually does not.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No. PDFMoss processes files inside your browser. The counter at the top of the page shows 0 B uploaded because nothing is sent.

Is PDFMoss free?

Yes. Every tool is free to use with no sign-up and no watermark on your files.