Fixing Embedded PDFs in WordPress with OCR

maize ocr and document on michigan blue background

If you’ve ever tried embedding PDFs in WordPress using the File block, you may have run into a frustrating issue: for some reason, certain PDFs just don’t display properly. This can be particularly annoying when you’re trying to provide downloadable content or showcase documents directly on your site.

After some troubleshooting, I discovered that WordPress recognizes when a PDF is image-based (rather than containing selectable text) and refuses to display it correctly. This is likely a limitation designed to ensure accessibility and usability but it can be a roadblock when working with scanned documents or older PDFs.

The Solution: OCR Processing

The fix turned out to be simple: running the PDFs through Adobe’s Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tool. This process converts image-based text into selectable, searchable text, effectively making the document more web-friendly and accessible.

Why This Works

  1. Improved Accessibility – OCR processing ensures that screen readers can recognize and read the text within the PDF, making your content more inclusive.
  2. WordPress Compatibility – Once the PDF contains recognized text, WordPress no longer sees it as an image-based file and allows it to be embedded properly.
  3. Better Searchability – Search engines can now index the content of your PDFs, improving your site’s SEO.

How to OCR Your PDFs

If you’re facing the same issue, here’s a quick step-by-step guide:

  1. Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat (or another OCR tool).
  2. Navigate to Tools > Scan & OCR and select Recognize Text.
  3. Run the OCR process and save the file.
  4. Upload the newly processed PDF to your WordPress media library.
  5. Embed the PDF using the File block – it should now display properly!

Final Thoughts

Converting your PDFs using OCR isn’t just a workaround for WordPress—it’s a best practice for web accessibility. Ensuring your documents are readable by both users and search engines makes for a better online experience. So if you’re dealing with embedded PDFs not showing up, give OCR a try!

If you are still encountering this issue on your WordPress site, please don’t hesitate to reach out to LSA Technology Services for support.