How to Convert Scanned PDFs to Word (OCR Made Simple)

Have you ever received a scanned PDF and wished you could edit the text? This is where Optical Character Recognition (OCR) comes in. In this guide, we’ll show you how to turn scanned PDFs into editable Word documents—quickly and accurately.

Why Do You Need OCR for Scanned PDFs?

Unlike digital PDFs, scanned PDFs are essentially images of text. Without OCR, you can’t copy, edit, or search the text. OCR tools read the image and convert it into machine-readable text.

The Best Way to Convert Scanned PDFs to Word

1. Go to PDFHawk.
2. Upload your scanned PDF file.
3. Select “PDF ➝ Word (with OCR)” from the options.
4. Click Convert and wait for processing.
5. Download your fully editable Word file.

Benefits of Using OCR in PDFHawk

• Free: No sign-up, no hidden fees.
• Accurate: Maintains formatting and layout.
• Fast: Converts in seconds.

Common OCR Issues and How to Fix Them

OCR accuracy depends on scan quality. If text looks blurry or skewed, consider re-scanning at 300 DPI or higher. For multi-language documents, select the correct language option.