How to use pdf24 search in PDFs in 4 steps
- Open the PDF. Choose the file or drop it on the box.
- Type what you look for. Enter a word, a number or a phrase, such as an invoice number or a name.
- Set the options. Tick Match case to tell Atlas from atlas, and Whole word to skip matches inside longer words.
- Read or save the hits. Press the button: every match is listed with its page; download the -search.txt file to keep the list.
What does pdf24 search in PDFs show for each match?
pdf24 search in PDFs lists every match on its own line: the page number, up to 60 characters of text before the match, the match itself highlighted, and up to 60 characters after it. A summary line above counts the matches and the pages they are on, such as 240 matches on 6 pages.
| Option | Off (default) | On |
|---|---|---|
| Match case | atlas finds Atlas, ATLAS and atlas | Atlas finds only Atlas |
| Whole word | art finds art, start and party | art finds only the word art |
| Phrase | Spaces are part of the search | Same |
pdf24 search in PDFs measured on three searches
In a 6-page document of 1,944 words, the word dolor was found 240 times on all 6 pages in 0.3 seconds. With Match case on, Dolor with a capital D gave 0 matches, as expected, because the document writes it in lower case. In a 2-page invoice, Atlas was found once on page 1, in the line about Atlas Trading SARL.
pdf24 search in PDFs on a phone
Phone PDF viewers often have a small search box that jumps from hit to hit. A full list is easier to scan: every match with its page, in one scrolling column. Tap the download link to keep the list as a text file.
pdf24 search in PDFs on a computer
On a computer the list is handy next to the document: open the PDF in your reader, run the search here, and jump to the pages the list names. The text file opens in any editor and pastes into e-mails and spreadsheets.
pdf24 search in PDFs tip for numbers
To find an amount such as 119.70, type it exactly as printed, including the decimal point. Turn Whole word on, so that 119.70 does not also match 1119.70 or 119.705.
Why does pdf24 search in PDFs find nothing?
pdf24 search in PDFs reads the text layer of the file. When nothing is found, the file is usually a scan or photo, which holds pictures of letters instead of text, or the word is spelt differently in the document. With Match case or Whole word ticked, a capital letter or a longer word also hides matches.
| Cause | How to tell | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Scanned PDF | You cannot select any text in it | Run OCR PDF, then search the OCR copy |
| Different spelling or hyphenation | The word breaks at a line end | Search a shorter part, such as the first syllable |
| Match case on | Capital letters differ | Untick Match case |
| Whole word on | Your word is part of a longer one | Untick Whole word |
pdf24 search in PDFs after OCR
OCR adds an invisible text layer to scanned pages. Once a scan has been through OCR PDF, this search finds its words like those of any digital document, although recognition errors, such as 0 read as O, can hide some matches.
pdf24 search in PDFs compared with Ctrl+F in a viewer
The find box of a PDF viewer jumps to one hit at a time. A list of all hits answers different questions: how often a name appears, on which pages a clause is mentioned, whether a product code appears anywhere at all.
“full-text search refers to a set of techniques for searching a single computer-stored document or a collection in a full-text database.”
| Need | Viewer find box | This tool |
|---|---|---|
| See the next match in context | Best | Good, with 60 characters either side |
| Count all matches | Sometimes | Always, plus pages |
| Keep or share the list | No | Yes, as a text file |
| Works without a PDF app | No | Yes, in the browser |
pdf24 search in PDFs for reviews and audits
Checking that a contract always uses the same party name, finding every mention of a deadline, or listing where a product code appears in a catalogue are typical jobs. To mark the hits in the file itself, open it in Annotate PDF; to black out every match, Redact PDF has its own find-and-redact box.
Is pdf24 search in PDFs private?
pdf24 search in PDFs reads the file on your device and searches its text with JavaScript; neither the document nor your search words are sent anywhere. Our result lines read 0 bytes uploaded. That matters when the search term itself is sensitive, such as a person's name or an account number.
Only the page and the PDF engine are downloaded. The File API on MDN explains how a page reads a local file without sending it. The hit list exists in the tab and in the text file you choose to save.
pdf24 search in PDFs: limits
pdf24 search in PDFs is a plain text search, which keeps it fast and predictable. A few things are outside its reach, and each has a workaround.
- No wildcards or regular expressions: the text you type is searched literally.
- Matches across a line break are not found; search a shorter part.
- Text inside images, charts and scans is invisible until OCR adds a text layer.
- Password-protected files must be opened with Unlock PDF first.
- One file per search; merge files to search them together.
pdf24 search in pdfs: frequently asked questions
Is pdf24 search in PDFs free?
Yes. Searching PDFs on pdf24tools is free, with no account and no limit on files or searches. Everything runs in your browser on your device, so there is no server cost. Run as many searches as you like on the same file by changing the word and pressing the button again.
Does pdf24 search in PDFs upload my file?
No. The PDF is read and searched by your browser; the result line showed 0 bytes uploaded in our tests. Your search words are not sent either. Only the page and the PDF engine are downloaded, and nothing is stored after you close the tab.
Can pdf24 search in PDFs search scanned documents?
Only after OCR. A scan contains pictures of letters, so there is no text to search and the tool reports no match with a hint. Run OCR PDF to add a text layer, then search the OCR copy; most words will then be found.
Can pdf24 search in PDFs find a phrase?
Yes. Type several words with spaces, such as payment is due, and the tool finds that exact sequence. The match must be on one line of the PDF's text; a phrase broken across two lines may be missed, so search a shorter part if needed.
What does Whole word do in pdf24 search in PDFs?
It only counts matches that are not part of a longer word: with Whole word on, art finds art but not start or party. Word edges are judged by letters and digits in any script, so it works for accented and non-Latin words too.
Is pdf24 search in PDFs case-sensitive?
Not by default: atlas finds Atlas and ATLAS. Tick Match case to find only the exact capitalisation. In our test, dolor gave 240 matches and Dolor with Match case gave 0, because the document writes the word in lower case. Untick it again for the broadest search.
Can pdf24 search in PDFs search several PDFs at once?
No, one file at a time. To search many documents together, join them with Merge PDF first; the hit list then gives page numbers in the merged file. Alternatively, search each file in turn and keep each text file. Each list then names its own file.
How many pages can pdf24 search in PDFs handle?
All pages of the file are searched; there is no page limit in the tool. Text-based PDFs are fast: 6 pages took 0.3 seconds in our test. Very long documents of several thousand pages take longer and need some memory on phones.
Can I save the results of pdf24 search in PDFs?
Yes. The download link saves a text file with the summary line and one line per match, starting with its page number. It opens in any text editor and pastes cleanly into e-mails, reports or spreadsheets. The file name ends in -search.txt, so it sorts next to the original document.
Does pdf24 search in PDFs highlight matches in the file?
No, the file is not changed. Matches are highlighted in the result list on the page. To mark them in the PDF itself, use Annotate PDF and highlight the passages on the pages the list names. Your original file stays exactly as it was.
Can I use pdf24 search in PDFs on a phone?
Yes. It works in Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox on Android and iPhone. Type the word with the phone keyboard, press the button and scroll through the list of matches, or save it as a text file to share. No app is needed.
Who makes the pdf24 search in PDFs tool?
The pdf24tools team makes it. pdf24tools is an independent website and is not affiliated with PDF24 or Geek Software GmbH. Our search tool was built separately and runs in your browser; this page describes it only from our own tests with our own files. Tests were run on 2026-11-02.
pdf24 search in pdfs: sources
- Full-text search — Wikipedia
- File API — MDN Web Docs
- PDF — Wikipedia