---
title: "PDF to Text: Copy the Text Out of a PDF | ToolSugar"
description: "Extract the text from a PDF into a plain text file you can copy or download. Choose pages. Works on PDFs with a text layer, in your browser with no upload."
canonical: https://toolsugar.com/tools/pdf-to-text
image: https://toolsugar.com/og.png
---

# PDF to Text

ToolSugar reads the text stored inside a PDF and gives it to you as a plain text file you can copy or download. It runs in your browser with no upload. It does not do OCR, so a scanned PDF with no text layer is reported as having no text instead of a blank result.

Runs on your device

## How it works

1. Choose one PDF.
2. Leave Pages empty for the whole document, or type pages like 1-3, 7.
3. Press Extract text and read the preview.
4. Press Copy text or download the .txt file.

## Key facts

- **Output**: Plain UTF-8 text, one line per line of the page, pages separated by a blank line
- **Needs**: A text layer. Scanned images are not read, there is no OCR
- **Pages**: All, or a list such as 1-3, 7
- **Where it runs**: In your browser. The file is not uploaded and no account is needed.

## Common uses

- Paste a clause from a contract into an email.
- Pull the words out of a report to count or search them.
- Feed a paper's text into notes or a translation tool.

## Questions

### Why did it say no text was found?

The PDF is probably a scan or a photo of paper, so it holds pictures and no characters. This tool reads stored text only and cannot do OCR.

### Does it keep the layout of columns and tables?

No. It gives the text in the order the PDF stores it, one line per line. Columns and tables may come out interleaved or in an odd order.

### Can I get the text of only some pages?

Yes. Type the pages in the Pages box. Pages in your range that hold no text are listed in the note under the result.

[Read the PDF to Text guide](https://toolsugar.com/blog/how-to-extract-text-from-a-pdf)

## Related tools

- [PDF to Word](https://toolsugar.com/tools/pdf-to-word)
- [PDF to Audio](https://toolsugar.com/tools/pdf-to-audio)
- [PDF to Image](https://toolsugar.com/tools/pdf-to-image)