PDF Ready

OCR before upload

OCR a scanned PDF on Android before upload

OCR can help when a scanned PDF needs searchable text, but it is not a universal upload fix. Use it only when the destination or your workflow benefits from selectable text.

Install PDF Ready on Google Play Prepare your PDF before upload
Android-first On-device by default Review before clean export

When OCR helps

  • A scanned document needs searchable or selectable text.
  • You want to find text in the PDF after export.
  • The upload path accepts the size impact of OCR.

When OCR can hurt

  • Tight targets such as 300 KB or 500 KB may be harder to hit.
  • OCR cannot fix a blurry or badly lit scan.
  • Some destination workflows only need a readable image, not searchable text.

Use OCR in the PDF Ready flow

  • Start from a scan, photo PDF, or imported PDF.
  • Enable OCR only when needed in Prepare options.
  • Review size and readability before clean export.

Keep expectations realistic

  • OCR quality depends on the source scan.
  • The destination still decides whether the PDF is accepted.
  • If OCR makes the file too large, prepare another version without it when searchable text is not required.

Next steps

Related PDF Ready guides

FAQ

Common questions

Does OCR increase file size?

It can. That is why OCR should be enabled only when searchable text is useful or required.

Do upload portals require OCR?

Many do not. Check the destination instructions before turning it on for a tight size target.

Can OCR fix blurry scans?

No. OCR works best from clear scans. Retake or rescan a poor page before relying on OCR.

Ready on Android

Prepare your PDF before upload

Install PDF Ready, prepare the document, review the result, and export the clean copy only when it is ready.

Install PDF Ready on Google Play

Note: PDF Ready prepares PDFs for upload workflows, but a destination can reject a PDF for reasons beyond file size.