How to Convert Images and PDFs to Text Documents For Free

Posted by Erica Warren on Aug 01, 2023

Have you ever wondered if you can turn an image or a PDF into an editable document? What was once a costly and buggy turnaround is now free and quick with Google Drive. This can be an invaluable trick that can save students time, resources, and most of all, energy! Let me show you the steps.

Convert images and PDFs to text for free graphic showing a student working on a laptop, highlighting easy tools to turn scanned documents and images into editable text.

What are the Steps?

1) On your computer, go to drive.google.com or select the icons shown in the image below.

imagesGoogle homepage screenshot showing how to access Google Keep through the Google apps menu, with arrows highlighting the apps grid and Keep icon for quick note-taking and organization.

2) Drag the desired file into your Google Drive as illustrated below. You can convert JPEG, PNG, GIF, or PDF (multipage documents) files.

Google Drive tutorial screenshot showing how to upload an image or PDF by dragging it into Google Drive, with an upload confirmation highlighted for converting files to text.

3) Select File ➡ Open with ➡ Google Docs as shown below.

Google Drive step-by-step screenshot showing how to right-click a file and use “Open with → Google Docs” to convert an image or PDF into editable text.

4) A sheet icon appears while the file is converting (see below). Google is now changing your PDF or image file to text with OCR.

5) A Google document will soon open. The image will be on the top and the new editable text will be below it.

Google Docs OCR example showing an original image converted into new editable text, demonstrating how Google Drive turns scanned images into searchable, editable documents.

What are the Ways Students Can Use This Helpful Feature?

Take a clear picture of a teacher's notes or another student's notes, pull them into a Google document, and make them your own. You can now add additional information or comments.
Make a PDF worksheet editable so that you can fill in the answers without having to retype the questions.
Take a screenshot of the text from a webpage, do the conversion, and then quote portions of the text in research papers.
Use some of Google's other free tools, such as Voice Typing, to make additions by speaking to the computer and letting it type for you, or use add-ons, such as Easy Bib, that help you quickly create a bibliography, or Reader, that helps you edit by reading your text document aloud.

Young student smiling while writing, representing dyslexia support resources

So, now you know how to convert Images and PDFs to text documents for free by using Google's embedded OCR tool! If you would like to learn about some other helpful technology tips, CLICK HERE to review some of my blog posts.

Cheers, Erica

Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator, and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning. She is also the director of Learning to Learn and Learning Specialist Courses.