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PDF OCR Processing in Foxit PDF Editor+

Last modified 8/16/2026

OCR (Optical Character Recognition) allows Foxit PDF Editor+ to recognize text in scanned or image-based PDFs. After OCR processing, the text can be searched and, depending on the selected output type, edited.

OCR is useful when you have a PDF created from a scan or image and cannot normally select or search the text.

Note: OCR is not always perfectly accurate. Always review the results, especially when working with documents containing tables, unusual fonts, poor-quality scans, or other layouts.

  • To Run OCR on a PDF

  1. Open the PDF in Foxit PDF Editor.
  2. Select Convert > Recognize Text > Current File.
  3. Select the page range you want to process.
  4. Select the language or languages used in the document.
  5. Select an Output Type.
  6. Select OK to begin the OCR process.

  • Choose an Output Type

Searchable Image Text
Creates an invisible text layer over the original scanned image. The document's original appearance is preserved, while the text becomes searchable and selectable.

Editable Text
Converts the recognized text into editable PDF text. This option is useful when you need to make changes to the text after OCR processing.

If preserving the original appearance of the scanned document is important, Searchable Image Text is generally the most appropriate choice. If you need to edit the recognized text, choose Editable Text.


  • OCR Settings

Depending on the output type and document, Foxit may provide additional options such as:

  • Downsample to - Reduces image resolution during OCR processing and can help reduce file size.
  • Find All Suspects - Identifies text that Foxit is uncertain about so you can review it after recognition.
  • Recognize the line segments as path objects in the PDF - Can improve recognition of line-based content, such as tables, when using Editable Text.

For most documents, the default settings are a good starting point. Adjust the settings when the document requires additional accuracy or produces unexpected results.


Review OCR Results


After OCR processing, search the document to confirm that the text is searchable. If you selected Editable Text, review the document to make sure the recognized text was converted correctly. OCR errors can occur when the original document contains:

  • Low-quality or distorted scans
  • Unusual fonts
  • Handwritten content
  • Tables or complex layouts
  • Characters that are difficult to distinguish

If you selected Find All Suspects, Foxit identifies text that may have been recognized incorrectly so that you can review it. 

Find and Correct OCR Suspects


To review suspected OCR errors:

  1. Select Convert > Suspect Results> First Suspect.
  2. Review the text displayed in the Find OCR Suspects dialog box.
  3. Compare the OCR text with the original document.
  4. Correct any text if necessary.
  5. Select Accept and Find to accept the result and move to the next suspect.
  6. Select Not Text when Foxit incorrectly identifies something as text.
  7. Select Close when you have finished reviewing the suspects.

You can also select Convert > Suspect Results > All Suspects to review multiple OCR suspects.

Note: A successful OCR process does not guarantee that every word or character was recognized correctly. Review the resulting document before relying on the extracted text.

  • Quickly Recognize an Entire PDF

If you want to recognize all pages of a scanned or image-based PDF using your previous OCR settings, Foxit provides Quick Recognition. 

Select Quick Recognition from the Home or Convert tab.

Quick Recognition uses the default settings or the settings previously used in the Recognize Text dialog box.

  • Process Multiple PDFs with OCR

Foxit can process OCR for multiple PDF files at once.

  1. Select Convert > Recognize Text > Multiple Files
  2. Select Add Files.
  3. Add the PDFs or folders you want to process.
  4. Use Move Up, Move Down, or Remove to adjust the files as needed.
  5. Select Output Options.
  6. Choose the destination folder and file-naming options.
  7. Select OK to begin processing.

Foxit may prompt you to install an OCR language engine when a language requires an additional component. 

Follow the prompt to download and install the required component.


  • Recognize Text in a Selected Area

Foxit PDF Editor also allows you to run OCR on a specific area of a PDF page.

  1. Select Convert > Recognize Text > Selected Region.
  2. Drag the cursor around the area you want to recognize.
  3. Right-click the selected area.
  4. Select Recognize Selected Region.
  5. Select the language or languages used in the document.
  6. Select OK.


OCR and Sensitive Information


OCR processing should be treated as a document-processing operation. Before processing documents containing sensitive or confidential information, follow ISU policies and requirements for handling that information. Foxit's OCR functionality is available within the desktop application.

If Foxit prompts you to download an OCR language component, the application may connect to Foxit's servers to obtain that component.

Do not use an online PDF conversion service for sensitive or confidential documents unless the service has been approved for that type of information. 

Additional Resources About OCR in Foxit

Additional Information:

How to Get Help

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