NimboOn any device
How to copy or extract text from a PDF
Short answer
Open the free PDF to Text tool, drop the PDF, and the text of every page appears; copy it or download it as a TXT file. If the PDF is a scan (a photo of pages), there is no text to extract: it needs text recognition (OCR) first.
PDF to Text
Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Drop a PDF here
or paste with ⌘V · up to 400 MB per file · stays on your device
With the free Nimbo web tool (any device)
- Open PDF to Text and drop your PDF.
- Read the extracted text in the preview; add page markers if you want.
- Select Copy, or download the TXT file.
With Nimbo on iPhone
- Open the PDF in Nimbo and tap PDF Tools.
- For a scan, choose Recognize Text to make the PDF searchable.
- Then select and copy text, or ask the document a question.
Tips
- Columns and tables are extracted in reading order as plain text; their layout is not kept.
- If the result is empty, the PDF is probably a scanned image.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the extracted text empty?
The PDF contains images of pages, not text. Text recognition (OCR) is needed, for example in Nimbo on iPhone.
Does it keep formatting?
No. You get plain text, which is ideal for pasting elsewhere.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The text is extracted in your browser.