Select text in PDF in macOS easily

How to select text in PDF in MacOS with DocHub

DocHub is an intuitive online editor that streamlines document editing, signing, and distribution, making it easy to manage your documents for free. With its deep integration with Google Workspace, users can effortlessly import, export, modify, and sign documents directly from Google apps. Whether you are using iOS 17, 18, or 19, our platform provides a seamless experience for selecting text in PDF in MacOS, enhancing your workflow and efficiency.

Follow the steps to select text in PDF in MacOS

Open the DocHub website in your preferred web browser and log in to your account.
Upload the PDF document you wish to edit by selecting the appropriate option to import files from your device or Google Drive.
Once the document is open in the editor, click on the text selection tool, which will allow you to highlight the text you want to select.
Click and drag your cursor over the text to highlight it. You can adjust your selection by holding down the mouse button and moving the cursor.
After selecting the desired text, you can copy it, annotate it, or use additional editing features available within the platform.
Once you’ve completed your edits, choose to download the modified document, print it, or share it directly via email or social media.

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How to select text in PDF in macOS

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In this video tutorial, the viewer is introduced to methods for bypassing content restrictions on secure PDF files. The tutorial covers two methods for copying text from protected PDFs onto a Mac. The first method involves opening the PDF with Google Chrome, allowing for text copying and pasting. The ease of searching for specific words within the document is highlighted as a helpful tool for research purposes. Downloading Google Chrome from the official website is recommended if it is not already on the Mac.

Got questions?

Here are some common questions from our customers that may provide you with the answer you're looking for. If you can't find an answer to your question, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

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How do I select specific text in a PDF?

Right-click the document, and choose Select Tool from the pop-up menu. Drag to select text, or click to select an image.

Why cant I select and copy text in a PDF?

The Text Selection tool may not be selected: Choose Tools Text Selection, or click the Show Markup Toolbar button , then click the Text Selection button . The PDF may require a password before you can select or copy text: Choose Tools Show Inspector, click the Encryption Inspector button , then enter the password.

How do I make text selectable in PDF?

To make a PDF searchable using docHub, you can follow these steps: Open docHub on your computer. Click Open. Find and select the document you want to make searchable, then click Open. Head to Tools and select Recognize Text. Press PDF Output Style Searchable Image. Select OK.

How to cut text from PDF on Mac?

In order to delete the text from PDF on Mac using docHub, you need to access its Edit PDF tool to remove the text in Acrobat. Now, the editing tool is active; simply click or select the text by dragging that you want to delete, then press backspace to remove the selected text.

Why is selecting text not working in PDF?

The most common reason why you cant select text in Preview is because your PDF document doesnt contain real text, it is a scanned image of the PDF. To select text in a scanned document you first need to change it to real text using UPDFs OCR feature.

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Select text in PDF in macOS in no time

How to select text in PDF in MacOS with DocHub

Follow the steps to select text in PDF in MacOS

PDF editing simplified with DocHub

Drive efficiency with the DocHub add-on for Google Workspace

How to select text in PDF in macOS