How do I make a scanned document searchable in Adobe Acrobat?

First, open your scanned document in Acrobat. Go to 'All tools' and select 'Scan & OCR'. Choose 'In this file' and then 'Recognize Text'. Acrobat will then add a searchable text layer to your document.

What is the difference between a regular scanned PDF and one where text has been recognized (OCR'd)?

Feature Regular Scanned PDF OCR'd Scanned PDF. Text Selectable/Searchable No, text is part of an image Yes, text is selectable and searchable Copy/Paste Text Cannot copy text Can copy and paste text File Content Image of a document Image of a document with an invisible text layer Accessibility Limited for screen readers Improved for screen readers

Scan Signed Releases in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Scan and archive the signed release form returned by [client=Olivia Bennett] into her file…+

Scan and archive the signed release form returned by [client=Olivia Bennett] into her file today and save the completed [file=PDF] to the SharePoint client folder so the record shows consent for information sharing.

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

BImprove — “do it better”Before archiving [client=Olivia Bennett]'s release, scan at legible resolution, OCR the…+

Before archiving [client=Olivia Bennett]'s release, scan at legible resolution, OCR the signature page, add a scanned timestamp page, and save the completed [file=PDF] into the SharePoint client folder under [folder=OliviaBennett_Releases_2026-07] so auditors can verify authenticity and staff can find the consent quickly.

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 PDFA searchable PDF is a document where you can look for words, even if it started as a scanned image.ExampleEven though it was a scan, the searchable PDF let me find every instance of 'warranty' in the document.

Who does this

3 roles

ArchivistResearch LibrarianRecords Manager

FAQ

about this task

First, open your scanned document in Acrobat.
Go to 'All tools' and select 'Scan & OCR'.
Choose 'In this file' and then 'Recognize Text'.
Acrobat will then add a searchable text layer to your document.

For the best OCR accuracy, you should scan your documents at 300 dpi. This resolution helps the software recognize characters more clearly. Scanning below 72 dpi will give poor results.

OCR is designed to work on image-only pages, meaning pages where the text is part of an image, not actual digital text. If a page already has 'renderable text,' it means the text is already digital and searchable. OCR cannot be applied to these pages because there's no image text to convert. It only processes visual text from scanned images.

Recognizing text in a scanned PDF creates a searchable layer. This means you can easily find specific words or phrases within the document. For archiving, it makes it simple to locate old documents quickly. For indexing, it allows systems to categorize and organize documents based on their content, improving retrieval efficiency.

Feature	Regular Scanned PDF	OCR'd Scanned PDF
Text Selectable/Searchable	No, text is part of an image	Yes, text is selectable and searchable
Copy/Paste Text	Cannot copy text	Can copy and paste text
File Content	Image of a document	Image of a document with an invisible text layer
Accessibility	Limited for screen readers	Improved for screen readers

Scan Signed Releases

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails