Handwriting Recognition in PDF Expert

With iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, PDF Expert can recognize your handwriting and make it just as searchable as typed text, without changing how your handwriting looks. It works with anything you write using Apple Pencil or your finger, and supports 29 languages.

Prerequisites

• iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 installed on your device
• The latest version of PDF Expert
• PDF Expert Premium subscription

How to make handwritten notes

1. Update to iOS 27 or iPadOS 27, then update PDF Expert to the latest version.
2. Open a PDF file. 
3. Select the Pen or Marker tool on the Annotate toolbar.
4. Write on your PDF with Apple Pencil or your finger.
5. Use PDF Expert's search bar to find your handwritten notes within the open document; matching handwritten notes in search results will be shown in italics. 

This also works for notes you wrote before this update, or in a different app.

Convert handwriting to typed text

PDF Expert can turn your handwriting into digital text:

1. Launch PDF Expert on your device.
2. Select the Annotate tool tab> activate the Pen or Marker tool.
3. Turn on the Convert to text toggle.
4. From then on, anything you write with that tool is converted into typed text as you go.

The same applies to the Text and Note tools: when you write with Apple Pencil (not your finger), your handwriting is automatically converted into typed text.

Convert existing handwriting

1. Open a PDF file in PDF Expert.
2. Select a handwritten note you already have.
3. Choose Convert to text from the pop-up menu.
4. Your handwriting turns into a typed text box. It preserves your current Text tool settings (font, size, color).