How to copy text from PDF that cannot be copied?

Capture2Text is an open-source OCR tool that solves the problem where you can't copy text from pdf for scanned or encrypted PDF files. When regular copy-paste shortcuts fail to grab document content, it delivers an offline local OCR solution to pull text straight from PDF image layers.

It allows you to extract text from any image-based area in a PDF with a single capture, but to use this recognition feature, you need to install the software locally on your computer.

First, download the installation package from the official website, complete the installation steps, and then launch the software. Press the default shortcut key, Win + Q, to activate text capture mode.

Within the PDF window, use your mouse to drag and draw a box around the target text area; the software will automatically recognize the text and copy it to the system clipboard.

Once the capture is complete, you can paste the recognized text into any text editor.

This method is only applicable when can't copy text from pdf due to scanning or encryption, so it is best suited for users who frequently work with image-based PDF documents offline.

If you do not want to upload confidential PDF files to online OCR websites, you can try using this tool. This tool requires manual installation, so please ensure you have sufficient hard drive space before downloading the installer.