Why Can't I Copy Text from a PDF? 5 Fixes for Scanned or Secured PDF

Part 1. Why Can't I Copy Text from a PDF?

To tackle the problem effectively, it helps to know why your PDF is acting up. Different types of PDFs require different solutions:

Reason 1: Copying is Restricted by Security Settings

PDF creators can lock their files with a permissions password, preventing actions like copying, printing, or editing. This is the most common reason you can't copy from a PDF.

Reason 2: The PDF is a Scanned Document or Image

Many PDFs are just scanned pages from paper documents. These files contain images, not real text, so you can't select or copy anything. Essentially, the text you see is just a picture.

Related topic:

How to Edit a Scanned PDF Document

Reason 3: DRM Protection

Some commercial e-books or reports use advanced digital rights management (DRM) to protect their content. This is a stronger form of security than a standard password, making the text unable to be copied.

Reason 4: Fonts Are Not Properly Embedded

If the fonts weren't included when the PDF was created, your device might not render the text correctly. Copying can result in strange characters or simply fail, leaving you wondering why can't I copy text from a PDF.

Part 2. Can't Copy and Paste from a PDF - Quick Fixes

After identifying the cause, it's time to tackle each type of PDF.

1: Restricted PDFs – Use Free Online Converter

If your PDF only has basic copy restrictions, the easiest workaround is to convert it into a Word (.docx) or plain text (.txt) file.

I recommend iLovePDF - it's free, fast, and requires no installation.

My Experience:

I tested a 30-page market report PDF with charts that had copy restrictions. Using iLovePDF, the conversion took about 15 seconds. The resulting Word document preserved the original layout almost perfectly, and all text was 100% copyable, with only a few charts needing minor adjustments. For quick fixes, this method works brilliantly.

Steps to Enable Copy-Paste in PDF:

• Open your browser and go to the iLovePDF website. Click the “PDF to Word” tool on the homepage.
• Click “Select PDF file” and upload the PDF you can't copy from.

• After uploading, click “Convert to Word”. Once done, download the Word file.

• Open the Word document, and you can now freely copy and paste from a PDF .

2: Scanned or Image-Based PDFs – OCR to Extract Text

If your PDF is a scanned document, the previous method won't work. You need a tool that can extract text from images - Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology.

I often use Tenorshare PDNob , which offers powerful and accurate OCR functionality.

My Experience:

To test its limits, I used a slightly tilted PDF of meeting notes taken with a phone. In PDNob, I selected the “OCR PDF” function and set the recognition language to Simplified Chinese. The processing of 5 pages took about 45 seconds. The results were impressive - the OCR accuracy exceeded 98%, even small printed text next to handwritten signatures was recognized. After recognition, the text can be copied directly within the software or exported.

Steps to Copy Text from PDF That Cannot Be Copied:

• Launch the Tenorshare PDNob software on your computer. On the main interface, click the "OCR PDF" button.
  
• Select the desired files from your computer, then click "Open" to load them into PDNob.
• Click the "Download" button to download the OCR functionality if prompted.
  
• Once the OCR feature is installed, click the "OCR" button on the top toolbar to initiate the OCR process.
• A settings window will appear. Review the settings as needed, then click the "Perform OCR" button to start the recognition process.
  
• After the OCR is complete, you will be able to copy and use the extracted text from the PDF.
  

3: Encrypted PDFs – Safely Remove Passwords

If a PDF requires a password to open or includes permission locks that block copying, you can use a dedicated PDF unlocker to remove those restrictions - but only if you have the legal right to access and modify the file. Always confirm you're allowed to do this before proceeding.

One available option is PassFab for PDF . It can recover or remove passwords so you can enable copy-paste in PDF files that you own or have permission to edit.

Steps to Copy Text from Secured PDF:

• On a computer you can use, download and install PassFab for PDF, then launch the program.

• Click Add and load the password-protected PDF. The tool will analyze the password complexity.
• Choose an attack type and settings. Typical options are Dictionary Attack, Mask Attack, and Brute-force Attack. The Mask Attack lets you narrow the search using known patterns.

• Start the recovery process. If successful, the program will either reveal the password or produce a new, unrestricted PDF you can open, edit, and copy from.

Important:

Only use password removal tools on files you own or are authorized to modify. Bypassing protection on copyrighted or restricted documents without permission may be illegal.

4: Last Resort – Contact the PDF Creator

If all other methods fail, or the document is sensitive or important, the safest and most compliant option is to contact the person who sent the file or the original creator. Explain why you need the text and politely request an unrestricted copy or a version that allows copying. This is often the quickest way to get a clean, usable file without risking quality loss or legal issues.

Legal & Copyright Notes Before Removing PDF Copy Protection

Before you try to bypass any copy restrictions, keep these legal and ethical points in mind:

• Respect copyright law. Copying or redistributing copyrighted material (like paid e-books or commercial reports) without permission may be illegal. Check local copyright rules and the document's license or terms of use.
• Protect privacy. If the PDF contains personal or sensitive data, handle it carefully to avoid exposing private information.
• Use tools only on files you're allowed to modify. Only run PDF unlockers, OCR, or password-recovery tools on documents you own or have explicit permission to change. Bypassing protection on files you don't have rights to can be unlawful and unethical.

Part 3. FAQs: Can't Copy from PDF

Q1: Why can't I select or copy text from a PDF?

There are usually two main reasons:

• The author set security permissions that block copying.
• The PDF is essentially an image (like a scanned document) with no actual text data. In this case, you'll need special tools, such as OCR software, to extract the text.

Q2: Is it legal to remove copy restrictions from a PDF?

A: It depends on your purpose and the source of the file. If you own the file or are using it for personal study, research, or other fair use purposes, it's generally acceptable. However, bypassing restrictions to copy and distribute copyrighted material without authorization may be illegal. Always follow local laws and regulations.

Q3: Why does OCR still produce some errors?

A: OCR accuracy depends on factors like scan quality, font type, and layout complexity. Very blurry, handwritten, or decorative fonts can lead to errors. Always proofread the recognized text after OCR.

Q4: Are there free ways to copy text from PDFs on a mobile device?

A: Yes. You can use iLovePDF's mobile website or certain scanning apps available in app stores. Many of these include basic OCR features, suitable for simple image-based PDFs.

Part 4. Choose the Best Way to Copy Text from a PDF

By now, you should understand why PDFs sometimes can't copy text and how to tackle each situation effectively:

• Quick, free solution for simple copy restrictions: Use online conversion tools to convert your PDF to Word or TXT.
• Scanned or image-based PDFs: OCR software Tenorshare PDNob is your go-to solution to copy text in PDF documents accurately.
• Encrypted or password-protected PDFs: With proper permission, a PDF unlocker can help you enable copy-paste in PDF safely.
• For maximum compliance and security: The most reliable option is to contact the PDF creator for an unrestricted copy.

Following these approaches will help you finally overcome the frustration of PDFs that won't let you copy text or show strange characters when copying.

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