How to Convert Scanned PDF into Searchable PDF using PDF.co and Make

Step 1: Watch for New PDFs

Create a scenario in Make and add Google Drive → Watch Files in a Folder.

Connect your Google Drive account and select the folder containing incoming scanned PDFs. If the folder contains other file types, add a filter to process only PDFs.

Step 2: Download the PDF

Add Google Drive → Download a File.

Map the File ID returned by the trigger. This identifies the individual PDF to download, not its folder.

Step 3: Connect PDF.co

Add PDF.co → Make PDF.co API Call.

Create a connection using your API key from the PDF.co dashboard.

Step 4: Configure Searchable PDF Conversion

Complete the following settings:

• API Endpoint Path: /pdf/makesearchable
• Method: POST
• Input Type: Upload files and inject as URL param
• Data: Map the downloaded PDF’s Data from Google Drive.
• Output File Name: Enter searchable.pdf.
• Forcely enable async mode: Enable.
• Auto-run job/check for async jobs: Enable.
• Export Type: Download a File.

The endpoint path is relative to https://api.pdf.co/v1. The connection supplies authentication automatically, and automatic job checking waits for the conversion result. See the Make PDF.co API Call documentation.

Step 5: Save the Searchable PDF

Add Google Drive → Upload a File.

Choose a separate output folder, enter a filename ending in .pdf, and map PDF.co’s output Data to the file data field.

Keeping output files in a separate folder prevents them from triggering the same workflow again.

Step 6: Test and Activate

Click Run once and process a sample scanned PDF.

Open the saved PDF and search for a word visible on the page. Also check that you can select and copy recognized text.

Once the result is correct, save the scenario and enable its schedule. New scanned PDFs added to your source folder will be processed and saved automatically.