Convert Scanned PDF to PNG
Turn each scanned page into a clean, lossless PNG — entirely in your browser, so sensitive documents never leave your device.
300 dpi · recommended for body text
Click to upload or drag and drop
Digitize without the upload
A scanned PDF is already an image of your pages. This tool re-saves each page as a lossless PNG at the resolution you choose — and does it on your own device, so a passport, contract, or tax form is never sent to a server.
Why a scanned PDF is different
II. StakesOnly as sharp as the original scan. A scanned PDF is a raster image wrapped in a PDF, so converting it to PNG re-saves that existing image — it can’t add detail the scanner never captured.
A digital PDF is built from vectors and text, so it re-renders crisply at any resolution. A scanned PDF is the opposite: it’s a photograph of a page. That means the PNG you get out is bounded by the quality of the scan that went in. The practical takeaway is to pick a sensible resolution and set realistic expectations — there is no setting that recovers information the scanner didn’t record.
Choose the right resolution for your scan
III.Match or slightly exceed your scan’s native resolution. Going higher than the original only adds file size, not detail.
Fine for quick on-screen viewing. Produces noticeably more errors if you later run OCR.
The baseline for body text and the OCR standard. The right pick for most scanned documents.
For small fonts (under ~10pt) and fine detail, where extra resolution preserves legibility.
Resolution guidance follows OCR best-practice references (university library guides, Dynamsoft).
How to convert a scanned PDF to PNG in 3 steps
IV.- 1
Drop your scanned PDF
It loads locally in your browser — sensitive scans are never uploaded to a server.
- 2
Pick an output quality
Standard (300) suits most scans; choose Fine print (600) for small text, or Screen (150) for quick viewing.
- 3
Download
Each scanned page becomes its own lossless PNG. Save them individually or grab them all as a ZIP.
For plain text scans, grayscale output is often cleaner and smaller than colour. Keep colour only when the document has coloured content worth preserving.
PNG vs JPG for scanned documents
V.| Feature | PNG (scanned) | JPG (scanned) |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy |
| Text & edge clarity | Sharp, no artifacts | Blocky artifacts around text |
| OCR-friendliness | Recommended | Discouraged |
| File size | Larger | Smaller |
| Best for | Documents, archival, OCR | Photos |
OCR best-practice guides recommend lossless PNG (or TIFF) over JPEG for scans, because JPEG’s compression artifacts blur text edges. Choose PDF to JPG only for photos.
Will the PNG be searchable text?
VI.No — a PNG is a picture, not text.
A PNG of a scanned page is an image of the page, so you can’t select or search the words inside it. To get a searchable text layer you need OCR (optical character recognition), which is a separate step. PNG is exactly the right format to feed into an OCR engine — lossless and artifact-free — but the conversion itself doesn’t add a text layer.
Keep scanned documents on your device
“The safest place to convert a scanned ID or contract is a tool that never uploads it in the first place.”
Scans are often the most sensitive files you own. Most converters upload your PDF to a server and promise to delete it later. Here, every page is rendered locally in your browser, so the file never leaves your machine. Read our Privacy Policy.
Frequently asked questions
VII. QuestionsIs converting a scanned PDF to PNG free?
Yes — free, with no signup, no watermark, and no page limit. It runs in your browser, so there is no server cost to pass on.
Do my scanned files get uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser, so sensitive scans never leave your device.
Will the PNG be as sharp as my scan?
The PNG matches your scan’s quality — it can’t add detail the scanner didn’t capture. For best results, scan or export at 300 DPI or higher.
Can I get searchable text from my scan?
Not from the PNG alone — a PNG is an image, not text. You would run the PNG through OCR software to add a searchable text layer.
Is PNG better than JPG for scanned documents?
Yes — PNG is lossless and avoids the compression artifacts JPG adds around text, which is why OCR guides recommend it for scans.
What resolution should I choose?
300 DPI suits most text scans; pick 600 for small or fine print. Going above your scan’s native resolution only adds file size, not detail.
Can I convert a multi-page scanned PDF at once?
Yes — each scanned page becomes its own PNG, downloadable individually or as a single ZIP.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, and phones?
Yes — it runs in any modern browser, across desktop and mobile.
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