what is ocr for scanned pdfs
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) analyzes the pixels of a scanned image and converts them into actual machine-readable characters, producing a searchable text layer that is permanently embedded inside the PDF file — so you can search, copy, and paste the text in any PDF viewer on any device. Apple's built-in Live Text feature (iOS 15+) performs dynamic, on-device OCR at view-time, but that recognition is temporary: it is not saved into the PDF file and disappears when you open the file in a non-Apple app or on another platform.
Resposta curta
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) analyzes the pixels of a scanned image and converts them into actual machine-readable characters, producing a searchable text layer that is permanently embedded inside the PDF file — so you can search, copy, and paste the text in any PDF viewer on any device. Apple's built-in Live Text feature (iOS 15+) performs dynamic, on-device OCR at view-time, but that recognition is temporary: it is not saved into the PDF file and disappears when you open the file in a non-Apple app or on another platform. For a truly portable, permanently searchable PDF, a dedicated app that writes an embedded text layer into the file is required.
O ScanTo Pro faz isso no seu iPhone: digitaliza em um PDF limpo, roda o OCR no próprio aparelho e pode bloquear arquivos com Face ID — compra única, sem assinatura. Confira a página na App Store para os recursos atuais.
O que observar antes de escolher
- Embedded OCR text layer: saved into the file permanently, searchable on any device/OS
- Apple Live Text: on-device, private, real-time — but the text layer is NOT written into the PDF
- On-device OCR (e.g., Apple Vision / Core ML) keeps document images private; cloud OCR sends images to external servers
- OCR enables accessibility: screen readers and assistive technology can read the text aloud
- OCR accuracy depends on scan quality — sharp, high-contrast scans produce far fewer recognition errors
Um processo prático de decisão
- Embedded OCR text layer: saved into the file permanently, searchable on any device/OS.
- Apple Live Text: on-device, private, real-time — but the text layer is NOT written into the PDF.
- On-device OCR (e.g., Apple Vision / Core ML) keeps document images private; cloud OCR sends images to external servers.
- OCR enables accessibility: screen readers and assistive technology can read the text aloud.
- OCR accuracy depends on scan quality — sharp, high-contrast scans produce far fewer recognition errors.
Comparação rápida
| Necessidade | O que verificar | Por que isso importa |
|---|---|---|
| Modelo de preço | Verifique se os recursos úteis exigem assinatura, desbloqueio único ou nenhum dos dois. | O app mais barato no primeiro dia pode não ser o mais barato depois de um ano. |
| Modelo de privacidade | Prefira processamento no dispositivo quando o conteúdo for sensível. | Documentos privados, currículos, dados de estudo e conteúdo familiar merecem cuidado. |
| Exportar / bloquear | Confirme formatos de arquivo, compartilhamento, backup e controles de exclusão. | Um bom app deve ajudar você a concluir a tarefa, não prender seu trabalho. |
Onde o ScanTo Pro se encaixa
O ScanTo Pro se encaixa bem quando você quer digitalização privada e no próprio aparelho, sem assinatura.
Pagamento únicoSem assinaturaNo dispositivo
Este é um guia de compras publicado pelo próprio desenvolvedor do app. Os recursos e preços na App Store podem mudar, portanto, confirme os detalhes na página do produto antes da compra.
Perguntas frequentes
Can I copy text from a scanned PDF on iPhone without an OCR app?
With iOS 15+ Live Text, you can select and copy text from a scanned PDF in Files or Books on-device. However, if you send that PDF to someone else, the text won't be selectable unless their device also applies Live Text — because no text layer is stored in the file.
What languages does on-device OCR support on iPhone?
Apple's Vision framework supports over 20 languages as of iOS 17 including English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese, Korean, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. Coverage continues to expand with each iOS release.
Is cloud OCR more accurate than on-device OCR?
Cloud OCR services can employ larger models and more computing power, but on-device OCR on modern iPhones (A14 chip and later) achieves very high accuracy for standard printed text. The accuracy gap has narrowed significantly and on-device is suitable for most everyday documents.