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CONVERT
Save the text of a PDF as a plain .txt file, ready to paste, search or use in other tools.
QUICK ANSWER
To convert a PDF to text, add the file and choose Save as text. StackPDF copies the PDF’s text into a .txt file in reading order, page by page. Scanned pages have no text, so run OCR first. It runs in your browser, so your file isn’t uploaded.
Updated 31 October 2026 · Written by the StackPDF teamUpdated 31 October 2026 · StackPDF team
Its text will be saved as a .txt file. It stays in this browser.Its text will be saved as a .txt file. It stays in this browser.
PDF files · Runs in your browser
QUICK ANSWER
To convert a PDF to text, add the file and choose Save as text. StackPDF copies the PDF’s text into a .txt file in reading order, page by page. Scanned pages have no text, so run OCR first. It runs in your browser, so your file isn’t uploaded.
Updated 31 October 2026 · Written by the StackPDF teamUpdated 31 October 2026 · StackPDF team
HOW TO
Drop it here, or choose it from your computer, your phone or My files.
See the text and how many characters there are before you save.
Download plain text that opens in any editor.
GOOD TO KNOW
All three get words out of a PDF. Pick the one that fits.
| TOOL | WHAT IT DOES | USE IT WHEN |
|---|---|---|
| PDF to text | Saves the text of every page | You want the whole document as .txt |
| Extract text | Saves the text of the pages you choose | You only need a few pages |
| OCR PDF | Adds text to scanned pages | The PDF is a scan with no text yet |
Formatting such as bold, columns and tables becomes plain lines of text.
PRIVACY
Yes. PDF to text runs in your browser, so the file never leaves your device.
StackPDF opens the PDF in your browser tab and does the work there.
Close the tab and it’s gone. Free results download to your device. Premium can also keep them in My files.
pdf-lib, PDF.js and qpdf do the work, inside your browser.
FAQ
Add the PDF and choose Save as text. You get a .txt file with the text of every page, in reading order.
Yes. The free plan includes 1 PDF export a day, with no account. Premium removes the daily limit for $5.99 a month or $39.99 a year.
No. The text is read in your browser, so the PDF stays on your device.
The PDF is probably a scan, with pictures of pages but no text. Run OCR PDF first, then save it as text again.
No. A .txt file can’t hold layout, so tables and columns become plain lines of text. Use PDF to CSV for tables.
UTF-8, which every text editor opens and which keeps accented letters as written.