Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?

No. The PDF is opened with PDF.js inside your browser and converted on your device. Nothing is sent to a server, so it's safe to use with private documents.

Why is the result empty for my PDF?

The PDF is most likely a scan, meaning each page is a picture of text rather than real text. This tool reads the text layer of the PDF and doesn't do OCR. Run the file through an OCR tool first (many PDF editors and scanner apps can do this), then convert it here.

How are headings detected?

PDFs don't store headings, only text at a given font size. The tool finds the font size used for most of the text, treats noticeably larger sizes on short lines as headings, and ranks them: the largest becomes H1, the next H2, and the rest H3.

Can it open password-protected PDFs?

No. If a PDF needs a password to open, remove the protection in a PDF app you trust (you need the password to do that) and try again. PDFs that only restrict printing or copying usually open fine.

Does it keep tables, images, bold and italic?

Not reliably, so it doesn't try. Table cells come out as lines of text, images are skipped, and font styles inside paragraphs are not kept. Headings, paragraphs, bullet points and numbered lists are rebuilt.

Is there a size limit?

Files up to 100 MB are accepted. Large PDFs are processed page by page with a progress counter, so a few hundred pages is fine on most computers.

PDF to Markdown Converter

Turn a PDF into clean Markdown with headings, paragraphs and lists rebuilt. The conversion runs in your browser, so your file never leaves your device.

100% free
No sign-up
Runs in your browser

Drop a PDF here

Choose a file

Converted in your browser. Your file never leaves your device.

Options

Detect headings from font sizeLarger text on short lines becomes # headings.Detect bullet and numbered listsLines starting with •, - or 1. become list items.Remove headers, footers and page numbersDrops text repeated at the top or bottom of most pages.Fix words split across linesJoins "infor- mation" back into "information".Add page separatorsAdds a --- line between pages.

Markdown

0 words · 0 characters · 0 lines

How PDF to Markdown conversion works

A PDF is a set of instructions for placing text at exact positions on a page. It has no idea what a paragraph or a heading is. To get Markdown back, this tool reads every piece of text with its position and font size, then rebuilds the structure: pieces on the same baseline become a line, lines with normal spacing become a paragraph, and larger text on short lines becomes a heading.

What comes out well

Reports, articles, ebooks and documentation exported from Word, Google Docs or similar tools.
Headings, paragraphs, bullet points and numbered lists.
Text that wraps across pages, and words hyphenated at the end of a line.

What needs a manual check

Tables, which come out as plain lines of text.
Complex layouts such as magazines, slides or forms, where the reading order can jump around.
Scanned PDFs, which contain pictures of text. These need OCR before any converter can read them.

Markdown is a good format for feeding documents to AI tools, wikis and static site generators because it keeps the structure while staying small and easy to edit.

How it works

How to use it

Step 1
Add your PDF
Drop a PDF onto the page or choose one from your device. It is read in your browser and never uploaded.
Step 2
Pick your options
Choose whether to detect headings and lists, remove repeated headers, footers and page numbers, and add page separators.
Step 3
Copy or download
Check the Markdown or the rendered preview, edit anything you like, then copy it or download a .md file.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Answers to common questions about the PDF to Markdown Converter.

: No. The PDF is opened with PDF.js inside your browser and converted on your device. Nothing is sent to a server, so it's safe to use with private documents.
: The PDF is most likely a scan, meaning each page is a picture of text rather than real text. This tool reads the text layer of the PDF and doesn't do OCR. Run the file through an OCR tool first (many PDF editors and scanner apps can do this), then convert it here.
: PDFs don't store headings, only text at a given font size. The tool finds the font size used for most of the text, treats noticeably larger sizes on short lines as headings, and ranks them: the largest becomes H1, the next H2, and the rest H3.
: No. If a PDF needs a password to open, remove the protection in a PDF app you trust (you need the password to do that) and try again. PDFs that only restrict printing or copying usually open fine.
: Not reliably, so it doesn't try. Table cells come out as lines of text, images are skipped, and font styles inside paragraphs are not kept. Headings, paragraphs, bullet points and numbered lists are rebuilt.
: Files up to 100 MB are accepted. Large PDFs are processed page by page with a progress counter, so a few hundred pages is fine on most computers.

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