In this article:
Blog
>
PDF

OCR PDF to Text Mac (Easiest Way in 2024)

In this article, we’ll show you how to OCR a PDF to text on your Mac using the Lido app. It’s quick and simple—just follow these steps!

How to OCR a PDF on Mac

To OCR a PDF on Mac, we will walk you through the process using Lido. Lido excels at converting complex layouts and tables from a PDF file into structured and readable text, making it a powerful tool for managing and automating your document tasks.

Lido works well on both Windows and Mac. You can sign up for a free account using this link: https://www.lido.app/go/signup.

In this guide, we will use Lido’s custom formula IMPORTPDF, which extracts everything from the PDF at once.

Step 1: Upload Your PDF to Google Drive

First, log into your Google Drive account. Click “New” and then “File upload” to upload your PDF. This step ensures that Lido can access your file online.

convert pdf to text on mac with ocr

Step 2: Create a New Lido Spreadsheet

Log into your Lido account and go to the Files page. Click “New file” to create a new spreadsheet for organizing the data you’ll extract from your PDF.

best ocr software for mac to convert pdf to text

Step 3: Enter the IMPORTPDF Formula

In cell A1, type =IMPORTPDF(GOOGLEDRIVEFILE("your-email@example.com","your-drive-credential"),"Sheet1!B2") without the quotation marks to connect to your Google Drive account.

how to extract text from pdf on mac using ocr

Step 4: Connect Your Google Account

Click “Add Credential” and follow the instructions to link the Google account where your PDF is stored. This connection allows Lido to access your file. Ensure you complete all the steps to set up your account properly.

mac ocr tool for pdf to text conversion

Step 5: Open the File Selector

After linking your Google account, press the comma key to continue the formula. Click “Select a file” to open your Google Drive files.

how to use ocr to convert pdf to text on mac

Step 6: Link the PDF in Google Drive to Your Worksheet

Find and select the PDF you uploaded in Google Drive. This action links the selected PDF to your spreadsheet formula.

ocr pdf files to editable text on mac

Step 7: Complete the IMPORTPDF Formula

Finish the formula by closing the parentheses after the Google Drive URL and specifying the output cell, like Sheet1!B2. The complete formula looks like this:

=IMPORTPDF(GOOGLEDRIVEFILE("your-email@example.com","your-drive-credential"),"Sheet1!B2")

Press ENTER to apply the formula.

mac guide for ocr pdf to text conversion

Step 8: Execute the IMPORTPDF Formula

Right-click on cell A1 and select “Run action” from the context menu. This will execute the IMPORTPDF formula and start converting the PDF to text.

simple steps to ocr a pdf on mac

Step 9: Review the Converted Data

Review the converted data. Ensure all information is accurately displayed and correctly formatted within the cells.

ocr a pdf mac

Step 10: Copy the Data to a Word Document or Text Editor

After confirming the data extraction is correct, select and copy the data from the Lido worksheet. Open a new Word document or text editor on your Mac and paste the copied data into the document.

ocr a pdf mac guide

We hope you now have a better understanding of how to convert pdf to Word on Mac.

Level up your Google Sheets skills with our free Google Sheets automation guide

Wasting too much time doing things manually in spreadsheets? Want to spend more time doing what you love? Our 100% free, 27-page Google Sheets automation guide is full of new tips and tricks that will save you time and money!