How to convert PDF to TXT
- Add your .PDF file - drop it in the box above or click to browse.
- Convert it to .TXT in a few seconds.
- Download your new .TXT file.
What to expect
- All formatting, images, and layout are discarded; only raw text remains.
- Multi-column or complex pages may extract in an unexpected reading order.
- A scanned, image-only PDF produces no text without OCR.
Frequently asked questions
What does the TXT file keep?
Only the readable text is extracted; all fonts, colors, images, and page layout are dropped because plain text carries no formatting. Reading order usually follows the page, though multi-column pages can interleave.
Why convert a PDF to TXT?
Plain text is the simplest, most universal format, ideal for searching, scripting, or pasting wording into another tool. It opens instantly everywhere with nothing to install.
What opens a TXT file?
Any text editor: Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on macOS, and gedit on Linux, among many others. There is nothing to install.
Why is my output empty or garbled?
If the PDF is a scanned image with no text layer, there is nothing to extract and the file comes out empty; that case needs OCR, which this conversion does not do. Unusual embedded fonts or encodings can also produce stray characters.
Our free PDF toolsAll tools →
Programs that convert PDF: Hamster Free eBook Converter · Microsoft Word · Calibre · Calibre for Mac · Calibre for Linux · ZAMZAR - Free Online File Conversion
