Convert PDF and photo files to text

You can convert image files to text with Google Drive.

Prepare the file

These tips will give you the best results:

• Format: You can convert .JPEG, .PNG, .GIF, or PDF (multipage documents) files.
• File size: The file should be 2 MB or less.
• Resolution: Text should be at least 10 pixels high.
• Orientation: Documents must be right-side up. If your image is facing the wrong way, rotate it before uploading it to Google Drive.
• Languages: Google Drive will detect the language of the document.
• Font and character set: For best results, use common fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman.
• Image quality: Sharp images with even lighting and clear contrasts work best.

Convert an image file

1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
2. Right-click on the desired file.
3. Click Open with Google Docs.
4. The image file will be converted to a Google Doc, but some formatting might not transfer:
   • Bold, italics, font size, font type, and line breaks are most likely to be retained.
   • Lists, tables, columns, footnotes, and endnotes are likely not be detected.