How to Copy Text From PDF

Struggling to get your PDF text into another document? Can't copy text from PDF files? Then this is the guide for you.

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to copy text from PDF files for any situation. From manually using keyboard shortcuts and doing it online for free to copying text from scanned PDFs and even copying your images. We cover it all.

Read on and get ready to discover multiple ways to instantly and effortlessly copy text from your PDFs.

Can text be copied from PDF?

The answer? Yes – text can be copied from PDF documents.

It can be difficult, though, when the PDF is secured with usage restrictions, content is locked against editing, or if you have a scanned PDF of a paper document. 

Fortunately, there are quick and free ways to work around those issues. We cover a few ways on how to copy and paste from a PDF below.

How to manually copy text from PDF

It’s possible to manually copy text from a PDF. If you need to copy a few words, you can do so in your PDF reader or browser as a simple solution. Try this method: 

With the PDF opened in your browser, you can use quick keyboard shortcuts:

1. Just select your text by highlighting it with your mouse.
2. Then use CTRL + C (on Windows) or Command + C (on Mac) to copy text.
3. Finally press CTRL + V (on Windows) or Command + V (on Mac) to paste the text where you want it.

Note that this is a quick workaround for copying a small amount of text. However, it isn’t an elegant solution when it comes to extracting and copying large blocks of text or even a whole page. 

Free online tools like Xodo let you do it more efficiently – and even gives you access to more awesome tools to work with on your PDF, whether you extracting PDF text or working with scanned PDFs.

How to copy text from PDF online for free

Xodo lets you copy text from your PDF online and for free. Follow these steps:

1. Go to our free online PDF Reader.
2. Upload your PDF.
3. Select your text.
4. In the context menu that appears, click on Copy Text.
5. Then go into the document you wish to copy your text into.
6. Press CTRL + V.

This method works on all native PDF files. If you have a scanned PDF, though, you’ll need a slightly different approach that requires an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tool.

Copying text from scanned PDF and images

Using Xodo’s free online OCR converter, you can turn images and scanned PDFs into text you can extract and copy.

Upload your PDF to the OCR converter and turn your scanned PDF into a searchable PDF. You can then copy text from the PDF file instantly.

You’ll also have the option to convert the scanned PDF to a text file directly and you can then copy the text from the file as needed.

How to copy text from PDF to Word

You can manually copy text from a PDF into Word using the first method we described above.

However, the more effective solution is to use a PDF to Word converter. Doing so is more ideal for performing in-depth text-related tasks, such as spell-checking content or editing for grammar. 

1. Go to Xodo PDF to Word converter.
2. Upload your PDF.
3. Click on Convert.
4. Click on Download to save the Word document to your device or save it to Xodo Drive or Google Drive.

One of the advantages of using Xodo is that once you convert your PDF to Word, you can immediately use our free online DOCX Editor to update that text directly in your browser if needed.

How to copy images from your PDF

At times, you may want to copy more than just text from a PDF – you may want to copy images from PDF documents, as well. Well, Xodo can also help you do that too.

1. Open our free online PDF Reader.
2. Upload your PDF and select Crop from the menu in the toolbar.
3. Click on the Snipping Tool.
4. Then left click and drag a rectangle around your image.
5. Select Copy to Clipboard from the Snipping Tool options and click on Apply.
6. Go to the document you want to paste the image into and then use CTRL + V or select the Paste option from the application’s context menu.

Master PDF productivity with Xodo

Simply copying text from PDFs may seem impossible, but any of the above tips can instantly turn the task into a breeze.

Using the best free methods to copy text from PDF, no matter what your need or the PDF you have, you can use Xodo anywhere to work with your PDF text.

Working online? No problem. Handling scanned PDFs? We got you. On your mobile device? Just tap.

Xodo is the swiss army knife for any PDF task. From comparing different versions of PDFs to making last minute edits, there’s a tool to get any PDF job done. Try Xodo Pro and give your PDF experience a boost!