As we browse the internet, especially on social networks, we often come across images containing text that we’d like to save in text format rather than as an image. While using Google Lens on smartphones makes this process easy, Windows users can achieve the same result with different methods depending on their Windows version.
For Windows 10: Using PowerToys
Recognizing text from a screenshot in Windows 10 can be accomplished using PowerToys. This suite of applications enhances Windows with features not available natively. Among these features is the Text Extractor, which can recognize text from screenshots and images.
- If you haven’t installed PowerToys yet, you can download it from its website or the Microsoft Store.
- Open the PowerToys application and ensure that the Text Extractor function is activated.
- Open the image or screenshot containing the text you want to copy.
- Activate the Text Extractor function with the keyboard shortcut Win + Shift + T.
- A crosshair will appear, allowing you to select the area where the text is located.
- Once the text is recognized, it will be available on the clipboard for pasting into any application.
For Windows 11: Using the Snipping App
The latest Windows 11 update includes a text recognition function within the Clippings application, similar to PowerToys. Here’s how to extract text from an image to copy it to the clipboard:
- Ensure that your computer has the latest Windows 11 update, as this feature is not available in Windows 10.
- Open the image with the text you want to recognize.
- Launch the Snipping application by searching for it or using the keyboard shortcut Win + Shift + S.
- Choose the first option to select the area containing the text.
- After taking the screenshot, a notification will appear. Click on it to access the text recognition function, labeled “Text Actions.”
- The application will automatically recognize the text in the image and select it.
- To copy it to the clipboard, click on the “Copy all text” function within the “Text Actions” options.
- If the image contains sensitive content like email addresses or phone numbers, you can quickly hide that content directly within the feature before pasting the text into your desired application.
- To copy only a portion of the text, select it and right-click to choose the “Copy text” option.
This new tool is capable of recognizing text in multiple languages and can even extract text from photographs, including signs and names. It’s a useful feature for Windows 11 users, especially when dealing with images that contain text.