PDF to Markdown: how it works
To convert a PDF to Markdown, open the PDF to Markdown tool, add your file, and download a .md file where headings become #, ##, ### and body text is grouped into paragraphs. Extraction runs in your browser, so the PDF is never uploaded.
How to use PDF to Markdown
- Open the PDF to Markdown tool and add your PDF.
- Click Convert to Markdown.
- Download the .md file.
In your browser vs. uploading to a server
Best for turning reports or articles into Markdown for notes apps, wikis, and static-site generators. It reads the PDF's existing text and heading sizes — a scanned PDF needs OCR first to gain a text layer.
Frequently asked questions
How are headings detected?
- PDFER infers heading levels from relative font size — larger lines become #, then ##, then ### — and groups the remaining text into paragraphs.
Why is my scanned PDF empty?
- Scanned PDFs are images with no text layer. Run the OCR tool first to add selectable text, then convert to Markdown.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
- No. PDFER runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly and JavaScript. Your files are read into memory on your device, processed locally, and never sent to PDFER or any third party. Closing the tab or leaving the tool erases them from memory.
Is it free, and is there a file-size limit?
- Yes, it is free with no account, no watermarks, and no daily caps. Because processing happens on your own device, the only practical size limit is your device's available memory rather than a server upload quota.
PDFER is a privacy-first PDF toolkit built by Kiril Urbonas. Every tool runs entirely in your browser — see our security model and privacy policy.