How to Perform OCR on Existing PDFs with Acrobat Mobile on iOS
Question details
The user wants to run OCR (text recognition) on existing PDF files directly on an iPhone or iPad using Acrobat Mobile, without relying on Adobe Scan.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Mobile
- Device & OS
- iOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to extract text or make existing PDF files searchable natively on a mobile device.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat Reader for iOS does not natively support OCR for existing PDFs. Users must use alternative workflows to achieve text recognition.
Ensure you have the latest versions of your PDF and scanning apps installed from the App Store, and check that your iOS device has enough storage to process and save new files.
Use Adobe Scan to Perform OCR on Existing Files
Since Acrobat Reader for iOS does not have built-in OCR, you can import your existing documents or images into Adobe Scan to recognize text.
Adobe Scan bridges the functional gap in Acrobat Mobile by converting imported images into searchable PDFs.
Download and launch the Adobe Scan app on your iPhone or iPad.
Go to the app's Preferences and ensure that the 'Text Recognition' feature is toggled on.
Tap the photo icon to browse your camera roll and import the existing document images you wish to convert.
Tap 'Save PDF'. The app will automatically perform text recognition during the saving process.
Once processed, open the newly saved searchable PDF in Acrobat Reader Mobile to interact with the recognized text.
Extract Text from PDFs Directly with WPS Office
Bypass the limitations of Acrobat Mobile by using WPS Office. The WPS Office mobile app offers powerful built-in OCR tools, allowing you to extract text from images and existing PDFs quickly and accurately directly on your iOS device.
- 1. Open WPS Office: Launch the WPS Office app on your iPhone or iPad and open your existing PDF file.
- 2. Access OCR Tool: Tap the 'Tools' menu at the bottom of the screen, navigate to the PDF tab, and select 'OCR' or 'Image to Text'.
- 3. Extract Text: Select the pages or area you want to scan. The app will quickly recognize and extract the text for you to copy or export.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I edit text in my PDF on Acrobat Mobile?
If your PDF is a scanned image rather than a text-based document, Acrobat Mobile cannot edit it without first running OCR. Since the mobile app lacks built-in OCR for existing files, you must use a separate scanning app to recognize the text first.
Does iOS have a built-in OCR feature?
Yes, iOS 15 and later feature 'Live Text', which can recognize text in photos and images natively. You can open a screenshot of a PDF in your Photos app to select and copy text without third-party apps.
Is Adobe Scan free to use for OCR?
Adobe Scan is free to download and use for basic scanning and OCR features, but you may need an Adobe subscription to export to certain formats or access premium features like combining multiple files into one PDF.
How do I make a PDF searchable on an iPad?
To make a PDF searchable on an iPad, you can use a dedicated OCR app like Adobe Scan or WPS Office to process the document. Once the text is recognized, the file is saved as a new, searchable PDF.
