How do I make text in a scanned PDF searchable using Acrobat?

Open your scanned PDF in Acrobat. Go to 'All tools' > 'Scan & OCR' > 'In this file'. Select the pages and language. Click 'Recognize Text'. Acrobat then adds a hidden text layer so you can search the document.

What is the difference between a regular PDF and an OCR-processed PDF?

Feature Regular PDF (Image-only) OCR-processed PDF. Text Selectable No, text is part of an image Yes, text can be selected and copied Searchable No, cannot find words Yes, can search for any word File Origin Often from scanning paper documents Scanned document after text recognition Editing Text Very difficult or impossible Easier to edit recognized text

OCR Searchable Text in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Scan the cleared paper [document=check] to PDF, run text recognition so the payee, date,…+

Scan the cleared paper [document=check] to PDF, run text recognition so the payee, date, amount, and check number are searchable, save it to [folder=Audit/Checks/2026] and tag it with [tag=check 4512] for future searches.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

BImprove — “do it better”Make the [document=check image] audit-ready: produce a searchable PDF with OCRed payee, date,…+

Make the [document=check image] audit-ready: produce a searchable PDF with OCRed payee, date, amount, and MICR line; crop edges, add filename [filename=Check_4512_2026-05-28], embed a brief metadata note stating who scanned it and why, and confirm it appears when I search for the vendor name.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open the scanned PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
2
Go to the Tools menu.
3
Select Scan & OCR from the tools list.
4
Click Recognize Text and choose In This File.
5
In the settings panel, ensure PDF Output Style is set to Searchable Image.
6
Click Recognize to start the OCR process.
7
Save the PDF after OCR is complete.
Best practiceFor best OCR accuracy, scan your documents at 300 dpi and ensure the images are clear before running OCR.

In the appWith the API

After OCR completes, you can search, copy, and highlight text in your previously scanned PDF.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

OCROCR stands for Optical Character Recognition. It is technology that turns images of text into real text you can search and copy.ExampleAfter scanning a paper invoice, OCR allows you to copy the vendor's name from the image.

DPIDPI means dots per inch, and it tells you how clear an image is when it is scanned.ExampleA scanned photo saved at 300 DPI will usually contain more detail than the same photo at 72 DPI.

Searchable Text LayerThis is an invisible layer of text added to an image-based PDF, allowing you to search for words.ExampleThe searchable text layer made it possible to find keywords within the scanned meeting minutes.

Who does this

3 roles

ArchivistResearch LibrarianRecords Manager

FAQ

about this task

Open your scanned PDF in Acrobat.
Go to 'All tools' > 'Scan & OCR' > 'In this file'.
Select the pages and language.
Click 'Recognize Text'. Acrobat then adds a hidden text layer so you can search the document.

Recognizing text in a scanned PDF means converting the image of text into actual text data. This is important because it allows you to search for words, copy text, and interact with the document like a normal text file. Without text recognition, your scanned document is just a picture, and you cannot select or find any words within it.

Acrobat fails to perform OCR if the page already contains 'renderable text'. This means the page is not an image-only scan but already has real text embedded in it. OCR is designed to work only on images to convert them into text. If the text is already there, OCR is not needed and will show an error.

If your scanned document is blurry, the best way to improve OCR accuracy is to rescan the document at a higher resolution. Aim for at least 300 dpi (dots per inch). Higher dpi settings capture more detail, which helps the OCR software recognize characters more accurately. Also, make sure the document is flat and well-lit during scanning.

Feature	Regular PDF (Image-only)	OCR-processed PDF
Text Selectable	No, text is part of an image	Yes, text can be selected and copied
Searchable	No, cannot find words	Yes, can search for any word
File Origin	Often from scanning paper documents	Scanned document after text recognition
Editing Text	Very difficult or impossible	Easier to edit recognized text

OCR Searchable Text

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails