PDF to Markdown Converter with Private Local Extraction
Turn a text-based PDF into clean, editable Markdown on your device. Infer headings and lists from page layout, review the result, then copy or download the .md file without uploading the PDF.
PDF parsing and Markdown extraction run locally. Your document is never uploaded.
No Markdown extracted yet
Text, headings and lists are inferred from the PDF layout. Scanned pages need a separate OCR workflow.
How to convert PDF to Markdown
Choose a text-based PDF, select page and word-joining options, then extract, review, and download editable Markdown.
Choose a PDF
Select or drop one text-based PDF up to 40 MB and 100 pages.
Extract Markdown
Infer reading order, paragraphs, headings and list markers from each page's positioned text.
Review and download
Edit the generated Markdown, copy it, or download a UTF-8 .md file.
PDF to MD extraction controls
PDF stores positioned page content rather than semantic Markdown, so visible layout must be interpreted carefully.
| Control | Setting | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Input | Text-based PDF | Extracts embedded selectable text; scanned images require OCR |
| Page separators | On or off | Adds Markdown horizontal rules between source pages when useful |
| Split words | Join or preserve | Repairs words hyphenated across PDF line endings |
| Output | Editable Markdown | Supports review, copy and .md download before leaving the page |
| Privacy | Local browser | The PDF and extracted text never go to a server |
PDF vs Markdown: what changes
The output prioritizes reusable text structure for documentation, notes, Obsidian, GitHub and LLM workflows.
| Characteristic | Source | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Fixed-position pages | Linear text optimized for editing and version control |
| Headings | Visual font sizes | Inferred #, ## and ### Markdown headings |
| Lists | Positioned bullets and numbering | Markdown bullets and numbered list markers |
| Images | Embedded page graphics | Not extracted in this local text workflow |
| Scans | May contain only pixels | Requires a separate OCR tool before Markdown extraction |
Private PDF parsing with honest limits
The PDF engine reads selectable text and layout coordinates locally; it does not send documents to an AI or conversion API.
Reading-order reconstruction
Text fragments are grouped by vertical position, sorted horizontally, and spaced using their PDF coordinates.
Semantic formatting heuristics
Relative font sizes identify likely headings while bullet and numbered prefixes become Markdown list syntax.
AI-ready editable output
The result can be reviewed before use in Claude, local RAG, Obsidian, GitHub or another Markdown workflow.
Explicit OCR boundary
The tool does not pretend image-only pages contain text. A scanned PDF returns a clear OCR-required message.
Related PDF and structured-text tools
Use OCR for scanned pages, or another converter when Markdown is not the required output.
PDF to Markdown converter FAQ
How do I convert PDF to Markdown?
Choose a text-based PDF above, select page separators and split-word handling, then choose Convert PDF to Markdown. Review the editable result and copy or download the .md file.
Can this PDF to Markdown converter handle scanned PDFs?
Not directly. A scan contains page images instead of selectable text, so OCR is required first. The tool reports this clearly instead of returning empty Markdown.
Does PDF to Markdown preserve headings and lists?
It infers headings from relative font size and converts common bullet and numbered prefixes. Complex magazines, multi-column pages and unusual fonts may need manual editing.
Can PDF images and tables be extracted to Markdown?
This local version focuses on selectable text and basic layout. Images are not exported. Table text remains available but complex cells may require manual Markdown table formatting.
Is PDF to Markdown useful for Claude or other LLMs?
Yes. Clean Markdown is easier to inspect, chunk and version than fixed PDF pages, but you should review extracted structure before using it in an AI or RAG pipeline.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. PDF parsing, text extraction, Markdown editing, copying and download all happen locally in this browser.
Convert PDF to editable Markdown
Extract structured MD locally, review it, and keep the source document private.
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