# Can Google Translate translate a scanned PDF? No. Google Translate's document tab accepts a PDF up to 10 MB and 300 pages, but its help page says text in scanned pages is not translated[1]. In our test on November 2, 2026, a scanned Spanish birth certificate came back as a PDF with every line still in Spanish. ## How to translate a PDF in Google Translate 1. **Open Google Translate on a computer.** Go to translate.google.com in a browser. Document translation is not available on phones. 2. **Click Documents at the top.** The page switches from text boxes to a file upload area. 3. **Choose the languages.** Pick the source and target language, or click Detect language to let Google set the source. 4. **Pick the file.** Click Browse your computer and select the PDF. 5. **Translate and download.** Click Translate, wait for it to finish, then click Download translation. Google lists these steps on its help page[1]. The document tab takes .docx, .pdf, .pptx and .xlsx files up to 10 MB, and a PDF can have up to 300 pages[1]. For more or larger files, Google points to its Cloud Translation API. ## Why scanned PDFs come back untranslated A scanned PDF holds a picture of each page instead of text. Google's help page says that text in images and scanned PDF pages appears in the output document but is not translated[1]. The tool does not run optical character recognition (OCR) on the page first, so it finds nothing to translate. Many PDFs are mixed. A contract may have typed pages and a scanned signature page, and an application may have a typed form with a stamped certificate attached. Google translates the typed pages and leaves the scanned ones unchanged. Check every page of the result before relying on it. ## What we tested On November 2, 2026 we uploaded a one-page scan of a specimen Spanish birth certificate, the file shown at the top of this page, to the Documents tab of Google Translate. The source was set to Spanish and the target to English. The PDF has no text layer, only an image of the page. Google Translate accepted the file and returned a PDF with every line still in Spanish, including the heading Acta de Nacimiento, the field labels and the names. The image at the top of this page shows page 1 of the English Word file LoreAI returned for the same scan. The form's sections come back as Word tables, and the names, dates and record numbers are written exactly as on the scan. ## Google Translate and LoreAI for PDFs, side by side *Checked on November 2, 2026, against Google's help page and our test* | What you need | Google Translate | LoreAI | | --- | --- | --- | | File types | .docx, .pdf, .pptx and .xlsx[1] | PDF, JPG and PNG | | File size | Up to 10 MB[1] | Free 3 MB, Basic 10 MB, Pro 25 MB | | PDF length | Up to 300 pages[1] | Free 3, Basic 30, Pro 100 pages | | Scanned pages | Not translated[1] | Read with OCR, then translated | | Photo of a document | Not a file type the Documents tab takes[1] | Upload the JPG or PNG directly | | What you download | A translated file, a PDF in our test | An editable Word file (.docx) | | On a phone | Document translation is not available on small screens[1] | Works in a phone browser | | Price | Free | First document free, then Basic at $12.99 a month | ## What to do when Google Translate fails on your PDF - Use a tool that runs OCR before it translates. LoreAI does both in one step and returns a Word file you can edit. - Add a text layer yourself first. Some PDF editors can run OCR on a scan and save a new PDF, which Google Translate can then read. Check the order of the text on forms and tables afterwards. - For a single short page, type or paste the text into Google Translate by hand. You lose the layout, but you see every word. - Split a PDF that is larger than 10 MB or longer than 300 pages before you upload it[1]. ## What Google Translate does well Google Translate is free and needs no account. It accepts typed PDFs of up to 300 pages in one upload[1]. If your PDF has selectable text and you only need to understand what it says, start there. Its Documents tab is the wrong tool for a scan, a phone photo, or a form you need to hand in as an editable file. LoreAI is built for these documents. It reads and translates the image, then rebuilds the page in Word so you can correct a name or date before sending it. ## Neither one certifies a translation Google Translate and LoreAI both produce machine translations. When USCIS asks for a translation, the translator certifies that it is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate the language[2]. A machine cannot sign that statement. The person who signs can edit LoreAI's Word file. The [guide to getting a certified translation](https://www.loreai.org/how-to-get-a-certified-translation) walks through the steps. ## Questions people ask ### How do I translate a scanned PDF with Google Translate? Not directly. Google's help page says text in scanned pages is not translated[1]. Add a text layer with OCR first, or use a tool that reads scans, such as LoreAI. ### What is the file size limit for Google Translate documents? 10 MB per file, and a PDF can have up to 300 pages[1]. For larger files Google points to its Cloud Translation API. ### Can I translate a PDF in Google Translate on my phone? Not in the Documents tab. Google's help page says document translation is not available on smaller screens or mobile devices[1]. ### Why does my translated PDF look exactly like the original? The PDF is a scan, so Google Translate had no text to translate and returned the page as it was. That is what happened in our test with a scanned birth certificate. ### Is LoreAI free like Google Translate? Your first document is free, up to 3 pages, and no card is needed. After that, Basic costs $12.99 a month for 200 pages. ## Sources 1. [Google Translate Help: Translate documents and websites (computer)](https://support.google.com/translate/answer/2534559?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop), accessed November 2, 2026 2. [8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), Translations, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-103/subpart-A/section-103.2), accessed November 2, 2026 By Matt Mountain ยท Updated November 2, 2026