# PDF to Text

Get the text out of a PDF to copy, edit or translate it.

URL: https://shortformkit.com/pdf-to-text/
Updated: 2026-10-14

Drop a PDF and get its text, page by page, ready to copy or to save as a .txt file. Useful for quoting from a report, editing a document you only have as PDF, or pasting text into a translator.

This works for PDFs that contain real text (exported from Word, Google Docs or a website). Scans and photos of paper have no text layer; those pages come back empty.

Your PDFs are processed inside your browser with pdf-lib and pdf.js. Nothing is uploaded, nothing is stored, so it is safe for contracts, invoices, IDs and anything private.

## How it works

1. **Drop your files** Or tap to choose them. Several at once where it makes sense.
2. **Pick the options** Pages, order, size or format, depending on the tool.
3. **Save** Click the button, then save the new file.

## FAQ

**Why is a page empty?**
That page is an image, for example a scan. There is no text in it to extract.

**Does it keep the layout?**
It keeps line breaks and the order of the text, but not columns, fonts or tables. For the original layout keep the PDF.

**Is my PDF uploaded?**
No. The text is read in your browser, so the file never leaves your device.

**Are my PDFs uploaded?**
No. Everything happens on your device; the files never reach our server.

**Is there a limit?**
No page or file limit from us. Very large PDFs need enough free memory on your device.

**Can it open password protected PDFs?**
No. Remove the password in your PDF viewer first, then use the tool.

**Is it free?**
Yes. No account, no watermark, no daily limit.


Source: Shortform Kit (https://shortformkit.com/pdf-to-text/). Free, no login.