Chat with a scanned PDF
A scanned PDF is a set of pictures, so a tool that looks for text finds none. AI OCR fixes that: on Plus and Pro, askPDF reads pages that are only images when you upload, so you can ask questions about a scanned document, such as a contract, letter or book, and get an answer with its page. Pages that already have text are read as usual.
How it works
Upload the scan
Sign in and add the scanned PDF. On Plus and Pro, image-only pages are read automatically, with nothing to switch on. A long scan can take a few minutes.
Ask in plain words
When the document is ready, ask about one topic at a time, as you would for any PDF. Answers draw on the most relevant passages.
Check the page
Click the page chip and the PDF opens at that page. With a scan, always compare the answer with the page, because reading a picture of text can misread a word.
Questions to ask
- What does this letter ask me to do, and by when?
- Who are the parties named on the first page?
- What does the signed agreement say about payment?
- Which section of the scanned report covers safety?
- What does the note at the bottom of this page say?
An example
It asks for the signed copy to be returned before the end of the month.p. 2
An illustration of the format. In the app, the page chip opens that page of your PDF.
Questions and answers
- Who can use it?
- Reading scanned pages is part of the Plus and Pro plans. On the Free plan, pages that already have text are indexed, but pages that are only images are not read.
- Why do some tools find no text in my scan?
- A scan stores each page as a picture, with no characters in it. Recognising the words from the picture is a separate step, which askPDF does for you on Plus and Pro.
- How well are scans read?
- It depends on the picture. Clean, straight scans of printed text work best, while faint copies, small print and handwriting are harder. Open the cited page to check any name, amount or date.
- Can I get a better result?
- Flatten the page, light it evenly, shoot straight on and use a scanner app that straightens and sharpens. If you have the original digital file, upload that instead.
Try it on your own PDF
Free to start. No credit card, no setup.
Related guides
Guides8 November 20265 min read
How to chat with a scanned PDF
Want to chat with a scanned PDF? Here is why some tools find no text in a scan, how askPDF reads image-only pages on Plus and Pro, and how to get a good scan.
Guides24 September 20262 min read
How to chat with a PDF, and check every answer
A friendly, step-by-step guide to asking your PDF questions, getting answers in seconds, and seeing the exact page each answer came from.
Product19 June 20262 min read
Why every askPDF answer shows its page
Page citations are the heart of askPDF. Here is why we built them, how they work, and what happens when you click one.