Free online PDF tool
PDF to Text Online Free
Pull selectable text out of a PDF and download it as a plain TXT file. It is useful for notes, quotes, research, forms, drafts, and quick copying.
Select files
Drop files here or choose from your device.
File privacy and limits
This tool is designed to process files in your browser where possible. That means your selected files are handled on your device instead of being uploaded to a We Love Free PDF server.
Very large PDFs can still be slow because your browser has to do the work. For a smoother experience, use smaller files when possible and always check the downloaded result before sharing it.
How to use PDF to Text
- Upload a PDF with selectable text.
- Choose whether to include page labels.
- Click Extract Text and download the TXT file.
Why use this tool?
Helpful details about PDF to Text
Why extract text from a PDF
PDF to Text is the simplest conversion when you only need the words. A plain text file is small, easy to search, easy to paste into notes, and easy to reuse in emails, documents, spreadsheets, or writing tools. It is helpful for research articles, school notes, meeting records, contracts, terms pages, reports, letters, and any PDF where formatting is less important than the text itself.
What the tool reads
The converter reads the selectable text layer from the PDF. If you can highlight and copy text in your PDF viewer, this tool usually has something to extract. It groups text by page and line so the output stays readable. You can keep page labels when you want to know where each section came from, or remove page labels when you want a cleaner continuous text file.
When text extraction has limits
Some PDFs are scans or photos of paper. Those files may look like text, but they are actually images. A browser text extractor cannot read image-only pages unless the PDF already contains OCR text. Complex columns, headers, footers, tables, and rotated text may also appear in a different order than the visual page. For spreadsheets, use PDF to Excel; for editable documents, use PDF to Word.
Practical privacy note
Because plain text can reveal sensitive information quickly, check the extracted file before sharing it. Remove personal numbers, addresses, passwords, private notes, and hidden details if you plan to paste the text into another tool.
PDF to Text FAQ
Why is no text extracted from my PDF?
The PDF may be scanned or image-only. OCR is needed before text extraction can work.
Can I keep page numbers in the text file?
Yes. Choose the page labels option to add page headings. If you need an editable DOCX with page breaks, try PDF to Word.
Is TXT better than Word?
TXT is best for simple copying and search. Word is better when you want an editable document. Use PDF to Word for DOCX output.
Can I extract table data?
You can extract the text, but rows may need cleanup. For spreadsheet work, use PDF to Excel.
Does this work on phone?
Yes, as long as your mobile browser can load the PDF and the file is not too large.