Recognize text in PDF on Mac with a desktop application

Compatible with macOS Catalina and Big Sur
Intro decoration
Last updated on Feb 5, 2024

Go completely paperless, recognize text in PDF on all your devices

pdfFiller for Windows beta
Download
pdfFiller for iOS
Download on the App Store
pdfFiller for Android
Get it on Google Play

What you get with pdfFiller for Mac

screen
screen
screen
screen
Change text, highlight or blackout content, add signatures, convert documents into templates, and more. screen
Make a document fillable by adding fillable fields. Send it to your customers or colleagues and receive filled out copies right in your account. screen
Every change you make in a document is saved in the cloud, not on your computer. Storage limits? They don't exist. screen
Quickly add a ready-to-fill document from the built-in library instead of creating it from scratch. Contracts, agreement, tax forms - get the form you need in seconds. screen

Recognize text in PDF on your Mac like a pro with a desktop app

Now you can dump manual document processes for the reliable online workflows using pdfFiller for Mac. Install the application and get an entire set of advanced features for quick and high-quality document management.

Get started and recognize text in PDF with pdfFiller for Mac with the app

1
Install the desktop app
Download and install the version that suits your PC.
2
Log in
Enter your account credentials or create a new one.
3
Start editing
Create or upload a document and start editing in seconds.
Coming soon to pdfFiller for macOS
We’re currently focused on adding these features as soon as possible to the desktop app.
Collaboration tools
Sharing tools
E-signature automation
Have a question or want to suggest a feature?
Contact our Support, we’ll be happy to help.

What pdfFiller customers are saying about the desktop PDF editor app for Mac

See for yourself by reading reviews on the most popular resources:

How to recognize text in PDF with the pdfFiller desktop application for Mac

PDF has become firmly attached to our workflows. Some people use it everyday while working on documents. While others only have to use it once in a while, for example, to recognize text in PDF or to file a report. And although that task is simple, it can often require a specialized software to be used. Working with the PDF format is not always easy. To make a good PDF editing tool, it has to be an application software that works on Macintosh.
pdfFiller is a professional document management tool that enables you to concentrate fully on your work. The pdfFiller desktop app for macOS provides comprehensive abilities for modifying existing text and adding fillable fields. Quickly and effortlessly create interactive forms and place them on your website for your and your colleagues benefit.

Get the application installed using the steps below and recognize text in PDF straight from your Mac

01
Open your browser and launch pdffiller.com
02
Download an application software for macOS
03
Go to Finder -> Applications -> pdfFiller
04
Install the app and launch it
05
Enter your account credentials or create a new one
06
Upload a form or select one in fillable format from the built-in library
You'll have a ready-made document in just a few minutes, along with all the tools you need to further edit it, share it, and securely store.
Mac computers have their own program for working with documents called Preview, but it’s limited to only viewing PDFs and making dead-simple alterations. It can meet your basic needs, but in case you have more advanced tasks, such as generating complex agreements or interactive surveys, Preview is not the answer. This is where most turn to pdfFiller.
pdfFiller is a excellent decision for macOS users to generate, change, and store professional documents. It has advantages that captivate, such as integrations with cloud services, a user-friendly interface, and an extensive library of ready-to-fill forms. For instance, you can upload a document from your Google Drive or select one of the 25 million forms in the pdfFiller Library, then quickly recognize text in PDF and save it to your account. Even further, you can also install the pdfFiller iOS mobile app for constant access to your account and documents even when away from keyboard. Install the app now, sync on your devices, and use it anywhere, anytime!
Show more Show less

Questions & Answers

Below is a list of the most common customer questions. If you can’t find an answer to your question, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
How to edit text in a PDF on a Mac. Select Tools. Select Annotate. Tap the text icon. Place your cursor on the PDF where you want to add new text. Type the text. Use the text icon to change the font, size, and style of the text.
The Text Selection tool may not be selected: Choose Tools > Text Selection, or click the Show Markup Toolbar button , then click the Text Selection button . The PDF may require a password before you can select or copy text: Choose Tools > Show Inspector, click the Encryption Inspector button , then enter the password.
You can select and copy text from a PDF opened in Preview, then paste it into another document such as an email message or text document. In the Preview app on your Mac, open the PDF you want to copy from. Do any of the following: Copy text: Choose Tools > Text Selection, drag over the text, then choose Edit > Copy.
When you see There is no selectable text on this page message, click on Recognize. Alternatively, choose the correct language in the sidebar and click on Recognize. Choose the Language of your scanned PDF document, then select which Pages you want to recognize text on and click on Apply.
Frequently Asked Questions on Mac Preview OCR Live Text allows you to select and copy text from an image or photo. The copied text can then be pasted into other documents. However, it does not function as a comprehensive OCR, which extracts text from various documents, including scanned PDFs.
Double-click a PDF or image file to open it in the Preview app. Select one or more files, then choose File > Open With > Preview. To open a document in iCloud Drive, click iCloud Drive in the Finder sidebar, then double-click the PDF to open it.
Hear an entire document: Choose Edit > Speech > Start Speaking. Hear part of a document: In a document, select the text you want to hear, then choose Edit > Speech > Start Speaking.
How to Convert Scanned PDF to Text on Mac Click on File > Export to >Text (. txt). Then you'll successfully convert the PDF to a TXT format.