PDF to TXT

Upload a PDF file and download it as TXT. Free to start.

Drop files here, or press Enter to choose them. Up to 50 MB per file.
Drop a PDF file hereFree · up to 50 MB · 10 operations in total without an account · or paste with Ctrl+V
  • Sent over HTTPS · link expires in 24 h

How it works

  1. Step 1:

    Drop the PDF file on the orange block above, or press “Choose PDF”.

  2. Step 2:

    Press “Convert to TXT”. The block shows the progress while the server converts the file.

  3. Step 3:

    Press “Download” to save the TXT file. On Free the link works for 24 hours.

How PDF to TXT conversion works

PDF is a document format: it stores fixed-layout pages with embedded fonts, vector graphics, and page geometry defined by ISO 32000. TXT is a document format that contains raw Unicode or ASCII characters with no embedded formatting, fonts, or layout information. This conversion changes the file's encoding, compression method, and supported feature set. Text content, headings, and basic formatting are transferred; complex features such as macros or embedded objects may not translate fully. Converting between these two formats is common when the source application does not support TXT natively or when the target platform only accepts TXT. 1converter processes this conversion server-side using open-source tools. Files are transferred over HTTPS, converted on secure cloud servers, and returned through a private download link that expires after 24 hours on Free.

Sources and specifications

When to convert

What the TXT file is good for and why people convert to it.

  • Strips PDF layout so text is easier to parse programmatically
  • Produces plain UTF-encoded characters for search and indexing
  • Extracting text from reports to load into a spreadsheet or database
  • Turning scanned or exported PDF text into a format for text mining workflows

Where your file goes

  • It travels to our server over an encrypted HTTPS connection and is converted there.
  • The TXT file comes back as a private link. It stops working after 24 hours on Free and 7 days on paid plans, and then the files are deleted.

Questions and answers

What people ask before converting PDF to TXT.

Ask supportAll questions
Will PDF formatting like headings, columns, and tables be kept in TXT?
No—TXT is plain text, so layout, columns, and most styling are removed; content is output as characters and line breaks only.
Does the TXT output remain editable like a normal text file?
Yes. The result is a .txt file you can open in any text editor; however, the original PDF’s visual structure may not be recoverable.
How does this affect text quality from PDFs that are scanned images?
If the PDF contains scanned pages, TXT extraction depends on OCR availability; without OCR, the converter can only extract embedded text.
Will the converted TXT be compatible across devices and software?
TXT is broadly compatible and typically uses standard character encoding; it won’t preserve PDF-specific fonts or graphics, but it will open almost anywhere.

More about this pair

Many files at once? Starter converts 5 at a time, 100 a day.

See plans