Google Drive can open supported PDFs and images in Google Docs to extract text. Treat the result as OCR that needs review, not as a guaranteed faithful replacement for the source. Tables, columns, and small or unclear text can be especially problematic.
Prepare a readable source
Google recommends a file of 2 MB or smaller, text at least 10 pixels high, upright orientation, clear contrast, and even lighting. Supported examples include PDFs and JPEG, PNG, or GIF images. Preserve the original before adjusting an image or reducing its size.
If the scan contains confidential information, keep the process within the authorized account and organization. Do not send the document to unrelated OCR websites simply because the first result is imperfect.
Convert through Google Docs
On a computer, locate the source in Drive, right-click it, and choose Open with, then Google Docs. Check the resulting document and keep it distinguishable from the source PDF or image.
Google says some typography and line breaks may transfer, while structures such as lists, tables, columns, footnotes, and endnotes are less likely to be detected correctly. A readable paragraph does not prove that the whole layout survived.
Review against the original
Compare names, dates, amounts, identifiers, and any content used for decisions. Inspect every relevant page rather than checking only the first one. Correct recognition errors deliberately and label the derivative if it will be shared. Keep the original as the source of record where required. OCR does not verify authenticity, interpret handwriting reliably in every case, or establish that a scanned signature remains valid in an editable text document.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.