PDF to Text & Markdown
Extract the text from a PDF as plain text or Markdown, in reading order with headings and lists. Copy it or save a .txt or .md file.
Drop the PDF to read
The text is pulled out in your browser.
How to use PDF to Text & Markdown
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Open the PDF
Drop the PDF to read.
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Choose a format
Pick plain text or Markdown, and whether to join wrapped lines.
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Extract and copy
Press Extract text, then copy it or download the file.
About this tool
Pull the text out of a PDF as plain text or Markdown. Lines are put back in reading order and wrapped lines are joined into paragraphs. In Markdown, large text becomes headings, bullet and numbered lines become lists and bold lines are marked up. Copy it, or download it as a .txt or .md file.
It reads the text that is stored in the file. A PDF made from scanned pages has no text to read, only pictures; the tool says so and points to OCR PDF, which can read the pictures.
Everything happens in your browser and the file is not uploaded. PDFs do not store paragraphs, columns or tables, only words at positions, so the order is worked out from where things sit on the page. Multi-column layouts, tables and footnotes may need a quick check.
How do I copy text out of a PDF that won’t let me select it?
If the PDF has a text layer, this tool reads it directly. If you can’t select text because the pages are scanned pictures, use OCR PDF, which recognises the letters.
Can I convert a PDF to Markdown?
Yes. Choose Markdown and large text becomes headings, bullets become lists and bold lines are marked. It is a good first draft; check headings and lists, because PDFs don’t record them.
Why is the text order wrong in my two-column PDF?
PDFs store words by position, not by column. The tool reads top to bottom, so side-by-side columns can interleave. For these, extract a page range at a time, or try Extract Tables if it is really a table.
Is the PDF uploaded?
No. The text is read inside your browser and stays on your device.