Text to PDF
Turn UTF-8 text into a searchable, selectable PDF.
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Convert a TXT file into a readable PDF
Plain text is excellent for writing and terrible for sending. A .txt attachment opens in a different font with different line widths on every machine, and some systems will not accept it at all. Converting to PDF fixes the presentation in place, so what you wrote is what the recipient sees.
The text arrives in the PDF as genuine text rather than an image, which is the part that makes the result useful. It can be searched, copied out, indexed and read aloud by a screen reader. That distinction matters if the document is a log file someone will need to grep through later, or notes that should stay findable.
What a text file cannot bring with it is structure, because it never had any. There are no headings, no bold, no tables and no images in the source, so the PDF uses one consistent style throughout. If you want a formatted document, write it in Markdown and convert that instead, which does understand headings, lists and code blocks.
Simple, practical guidance
How to use Text to PDF
The contents of your text file are laid out with an embedded font and consistent margins, then paginated. The text goes into the PDF as real text, not as a picture of text.
- 1
Upload a non-empty TXT file.
- 2
Check the filename in the preview.
- 3
Start the conversion and allow the text to paginate.
- 4
Download the searchable PDF.
Get a better result
An embedded font and fixed margins give a predictable, readable page, and because the characters are stored as text the result can be searched, selected and copied like any other document.
Know how your file is handled
The PDF is generated by your browser from the file you selected, so notes, logs and drafts are typeset on your own device without being uploaded.
Check before you share
A plain text file holds no headings, bold, tables or images, so there is no formatting to carry across. Very long single lines are wrapped rather than preserved as written.
Questions people ask
Text to PDF FAQ
Formatting, long lines, encoding, and getting a searchable result.
How do I convert a TXT file to PDF?
Upload the text file, confirm the filename in the preview, start the conversion and let it paginate, then download the PDF. The whole process runs in your browser.
Will the text in the PDF be searchable?
Yes. Characters are written into the document as real text with an embedded font, so the result can be searched, selected and copied in any PDF reader.
Can I keep bold text and headings?
No, because a plain text file does not contain them. If you need structure, write the document in Markdown and use Markdown to PDF, which turns headings, lists, tables and code blocks into real formatting. Markdown to PDF
What happens to very long lines?
They are wrapped to fit the page width rather than running off the edge. For log files and code where line breaks are meaningful, that wrapping can make the output harder to read than the original.
Which character encoding is supported?
UTF-8, which covers virtually every script in common use. A file saved in an older regional encoding may show the wrong characters, so re-save it as UTF-8 before converting.
Can I choose the font or the page size?
The layout uses a fixed, readable font and consistent margins to guarantee a predictable result. For control over typeface, size and placement, build the document in PDF Maker instead. PDF Maker
Are my notes and drafts sent anywhere?
No. The conversion is performed in your browser, so private notes, drafts and logs stay on your device.
Why will my file not convert?
An empty file has nothing to typeset and will be rejected. A file that is not really plain text, such as a renamed document or spreadsheet, will also fail, since it is not UTF-8 text inside.
Can I convert several text files at once?
Convert them one at a time and then merge the PDFs, which also lets you set the final order of the sections. Merge PDF
How do I add page numbers to the result?
Run the finished PDF through Add Page Numbers, where you can pick the format and position. That is the usual last step for a long log or transcript. Add Page Numbers