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Convert PDF to text, free

Extract the text of a PDF into a plain .txt file, line by line and paragraph by paragraph. Copy it straight from the page or download it.

  1. 1Choose file
  2. 2Set options
  3. 3Download

Drop your PDF here

PDF → Text (.txt) · up to 100 MB

Choose file You can also paste a file or screenshot with Ctrl+V.

    AI assistant

    Add a PDF above to ask questions about it, summarise it or give it a better name.

    PDF to Text in 3 easy steps

    1. Choose your file (PDF → Text (.txt)): drop it on this page or click “Choose file”.
    2. Check the options (smart suggestions can set them for you), then click “Convert to text”.
    3. Download the result. Everything runs in your browser, so your files are never uploaded.

    Why use GrovePDF

    • Free, with no signup, no watermark and no daily limit.
    • Private: your files are processed on your device, never on a server.
    • AI built in: smart suggestions and an assistant that answers questions about your PDF.
    • Works on any device with a modern browser, in nearly 110 languages.

    Updated · GrovePDF team

    Get just the words

    PDF to Text reads the text inside a PDF and saves it as a plain .txt file: lines stay lines, paragraphs are separated by a blank line, and columns are separated by a tab. Plain text opens in every program, so it's handy for quoting a report, pasting into an email or a form, searching with other tools, or feeding a document to an AI assistant.

    Options

    • Leave out page headers, footers and page numbers (on by default): the lines that repeat on every page are removed, so the text flows.
    • Mark where each page starts: adds a "— Page 2 —" line, useful when you need to cite page numbers.

    Which converter should I use?

    PDF to Text

    The words only, in the simplest format.

    PDF to Markdown

    PDF to Markdown also keeps headings, lists, tables and links.

    PDF to Word

    PDF to Word gives an editable document that looks like the original.

    Scanned PDF? It contains pictures, not text: run it through OCR PDF first.

    PDF to Text: questions and answers

    What is kept?

    The words, line breaks and paragraphs. Pictures, fonts and layout are left out, and columns are separated by a tab.

    Does it work on scanned PDFs?

    Scans are pictures with no text. Run the file through OCR PDF first, then convert the result.

    Which tool keeps the formatting?

    For headings, lists and tables, use PDF to Markdown. For an editable document that looks like the original, use PDF to Word.

    How do I copy text from a PDF that won't let me select it?

    If the PDF is a scan, make it searchable with OCR PDF first. If it's protected against copying, remove the restriction with Unlock PDF, then convert it to text.

    Guide: Convert PDF to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and images