Copy text recognizes text from the selected page and copies the result to the clipboard.

Copy one page’s text

  1. Open the PDF and select a page.
  2. Tap Copy text, the text-viewfinder icon in the page controls.
  3. Wait for Copied or No Text Extracted.
  4. Paste the result into Notes or another app.
  5. Compare important wording and numbers with the original page.

For the entire document, use share → Export text (TXT).

If the result is incomplete

Make sure the page is upright and the text is clear. Recognition can struggle with blur, faint print, handwriting, tables, and columns. Recapture an unreadable page rather than relying on incorrect text.

Copying recognized text does not add a text layer to the PDF. A scan can support Copy text while still lacking the selectable text needed for text highlight, underline, and strikethrough in the editor.

Review copied text before sharing sensitive material. Clipboard text is a separate copy from the PDF.