How to copy text from PDF that cannot be copied?

Here are the detailed steps for using Microsoft OneNote to extract text when you can't copy text from pdf normally. OneNote's built-in OCR is a clever workaround, but the steps can vary slightly depending on your version.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Insert the PDF into OneNote

• Open the OneNote page where you want to work.
• Go to the Insert tab in the ribbon.
• Click File Printout (or PDF Printout on some versions).
• Browse for and select your PDF file. OneNote will then insert each page of the PDF as a separate image. This is the key step that allows you to bypass the restrictions when you can't copy text from pdf.

Step 2: Copy the Text Using OCR

Right-click on any of the inserted PDF page images.

From the menu that appears, choose one of the following options:

• Copy Text from This Page of the Printout: To copy text only from the page you clicked on.
• Copy Text from All Pages of the Printout: To copy text from the entire document at once.
• A Note on Timing: If the "Copy Text" options don't appear right away, it means OneNote is still processing the image in the background. Wait a moment and try again. In some versions, this process can take up to 24-48 hours, especially if your notebook is synced to the cloud.

Step 3: Paste the Extracted Text

• Click on a blank area of your OneNote page where you want the text to appear.
• Press Ctrl + V (or Command + V on Mac) to paste the text.

The most reliable OCR is found in OneNote 2016. The Windows 10/11 app version processes OCR on Microsoft's servers, which can cause significant delays. For immediate results, you may want to use OneNote 2016.