Extract text and LaTeX equations from a PDF on Mac
Use SmartSnip to capture PDF equations or extract pages with Local Mixed OCR on Mac. Learn what File to Text exports and how to review LaTeX output.
By SmartSnip Updated
On this page
There are two ways to get LaTeX equations from a PDF with SmartSnip: snip one formula from the PDF viewer, or use File to Text to process pages with Local Mixed OCR. The file workflow extracts text and LaTeX formulas into a text file; it does not reconstruct the original PDF as a complete LaTeX project.
Step by step
Choose one equation or a document
For a single formula, open the PDF in your usual viewer and capture it with the SmartSnip shortcut. For text and equations across pages, open File to Text in SmartSnip.
Install Local OCR
File to Text uses Local Mixed OCR. If the assets are missing, go to Settings → Models → Local OCR → Get Started and install the required models while online.
Process the PDF
Select the PDF in File to Text and run the extraction. SmartSnip reads the pages using local text and formula recognition, combining the results into text output.
Review and reuse the output
Compare the extracted text and formulas with the PDF. Copy the text or use the exported text file in your editing workflow. Add the document structure and LaTeX environments needed by your target editor.
What PDF conversion preserves
The useful output is editable text and mathematical notation. You can reuse an equation in your notes, build a new LaTeX document, or use the extracted text as input for another tool.
Page layout, column order, references, figures, and table structure may need manual work. OCR does not recover the original author’s .tex source, packages, or project files.
Working with scanned PDFs
A scanned PDF contains page images. Local Mixed OCR reads visible text and formulas from those pages, but blur, skew, small type, or complex columns can affect recognition.
- Use the clearest version of the document available.
- Check equations with small subscripts, integral limits, and matrix notation.
- If a page is difficult to recognize, open it in a viewer and capture individual equations at a larger zoom.
- Compile any LaTeX you reuse and compare it against the source.
Free local extraction and optional cloud tools
The Free plan includes unlimited local OCR and 5 cloud usage credits per month, shared across cloud OCR and AI chat. Local OCR does not consume cloud credits. Paid plans provide more cloud credits.
File to Text processes content with Local Mixed OCR. If you separately send extracted text or images to cloud chat, that content is processed remotely and cloud credits apply.