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PDF to Text

Extract text from PDF files and save as plain text (.txt). Supports multiple files.

Note: This tool works ONLY with digitally created PDFs. For scanned documents or image-based PDFs, use our OCR PDF tool instead.

Click to select files or drag and drop

PDF files

Your files never leave your device.

About PDF to Text

PDF to Text pulls out the text layer of a document so you can search, quote or reuse it.

How to use it

  1. Select your PDFs, or drag them onto the drop area.
  2. Select Extract.
  3. Download the text file.

Your file stays on your device

This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your file is read from your device, processed in memory, and saved back to your device — it is never uploaded to QPDF or anyone else. The first time you use it, your browser downloads the PyMuPDF engine (software only, about 54 MB) from qpdf.ca and keeps it for offline use.

How QPDF keeps files private →

Good to know

  • Scanned PDFs have no text layer: run OCR PDF first.
  • Downloads the PyMuPDF engine (about 54 MB) the first time.

Related tools

All tools →
OCR PDF Make scanned PDFs searchable and copyable.
PDF to Markdown Convert PDF text and tables to Markdown.
PDF to Word Convert PDFs to editable Word documents.