How to extract text from a PDF

  1. 1

    Upload your PDF

    Click to upload or drag your PDF onto the tool. The file is processed entirely in your browser.

  2. 2

    Extract text

    Click Extract Text. All selectable text from every page is extracted instantly.

  3. 3

    Copy or download

    Copy the extracted text directly from the page or download it as a .txt file.

About PDF to Text extractor

Extracting raw text from a PDF is useful when you need to copy large amounts of content into another application, run it through a text analysis tool, or simply read the document in a plain format without the original layout. DocumentFlipper pulls the complete text from every page of a PDF and gives it to you as clean, readable output.

This tool is fully client-side: your PDF never leaves your browser. Text extraction is performed locally using the pdf.js library, which is the same technology powering Firefox's built-in PDF viewer. Because no upload is needed, extraction is instant and completely private — there are no servers involved and no two-hour deletion window, because the file was never stored.

If your PDF contains scanned images without a text layer, no text will be extracted. Use the OCR PDF tool first to add a searchable text layer.

Frequently asked questions

Does it work on scanned PDFs?
Scanned PDFs contain images, not text. Use our OCR PDF tool first to make the text extractable.
Is anything sent to a server?
No — PDF to Text is 100% client-side processing directly in your browser. Your file never leaves your device.
What's the difference between output modes?
Plain Text strips all formatting. Keep Formatting preserves line breaks and indentation. Page Separators adds clear page markers.
Is it free?
Yes — completely free with no signup required.
Can I copy the text without downloading a file?
Yes — use the Copy to Clipboard button to instantly copy all extracted text to your clipboard without needing to download anything.