With advancements in Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology, copying text from images has become effortless, whether you’re using an Android device or a Windows 11 PC. OCR tools extract and digitize text from images, screenshots, or scanned documents, making it easy to copy and paste text into other applications. This guide will walk you through various methods and tools for copying text from images on both Android and Windows 11.
Copying Text from Images on Android
Modern Android devices come equipped with robust tools to extract text from images, both natively and through third-party apps.
1. Using Google Lens
Google Lens is one of the most popular tools for text extraction on Android. It’s integrated into many Android phones and accessible via the Google app or Google Photos.
Steps to Extract Text with Google Lens:
1. Open Google Lens: Launch the Google Lens app or access it through Google Photos by opening an image and tapping the Lens icon.
2. Select the Image: Choose the image containing the text you want to copy.
3. Tap the Text Icon: Lens will automatically detect text within the image. Highlight the text you want to copy.
4. Copy Text: Tap Copy text and paste it into any desired app, such as Notes or a messaging app.
Pro Tip: You can also use Google Lens directly through your phone’s camera by pointing it at the text and tapping the Text option.
2. Using Google Keep
Google Keep, a note-taking app, also has a built-in OCR feature.
How to Extract Text Using Google Keep:
1. Open the Google Keep app and create a new note.
2. Tap the Camera icon and choose Take photo or Choose image.
3. Once the image is added, tap the three-dot menu and select Grab image text.
4. The extracted text will appear in the note, ready for copying or editing.
3. Using Third-Party Apps
Several apps in the Play Store offer OCR functionality, including Microsoft Office Lens and Text Fairy. These apps provide additional features like saving extracted text as PDFs or translating text.
Copying Text from Images on Windows 11
Windows 11 users can take advantage of both built-in tools and third-party software to extract text from images.
1. Using Microsoft PowerToys (Text Extractor)
Microsoft PowerToys includes a Text Extractor utility that allows you to extract text directly from any image or screen capture.
How to Use Text Extractor:
1. Install PowerToys: Download it from the official PowerToys GitHub page.
2. Enable Text Extractor: Open PowerToys, navigate to Text Extractor, and toggle it on.
3. Extract Text: Press Windows + Shift + T, drag to select the area containing the text, and PowerToys will copy it to your clipboard.
4. Paste the Text: Use Ctrl + V to paste the extracted text into any application.
2. Using OneNote OCR Feature
OneNote, part of the Microsoft Office suite, has a built-in OCR tool.
Steps to Use OneNote for Text Extraction:
1. Open OneNote and insert the image by dragging it into the note or using the Insert tab.
2. Right-click the image and select Copy Text from Picture.
3. Paste the extracted text into your note or any other document.
3. Using Google Drive
Google Drive’s OCR feature works through its cloud-based platform.
How to Extract Text from Images Using Google Drive:
1. Upload the image to Google Drive.
2. Right-click the image and select Open with > Google Docs.
3. Google Docs will open the image with the extracted text displayed below.
4. Using Third-Party OCR Software
For more advanced features, you can use third-party applications like Adobe Acrobat Reader or ABBYY FineReader. These tools are particularly useful for processing large volumes of text or complex documents.
Tips for Accurate Text Extraction
– Ensure Good Image Quality: Higher-quality images yield better OCR accuracy. Avoid blurry or low-resolution images.
– Clear Backgrounds: Text with minimal background noise is easier to extract.
– Check Formatting: Extracted text may require minor formatting adjustments, especially with special characters or columns.
Copying text from images has never been easier, thanks to powerful OCR tools available on Android and Windows 11. Whether you prefer using built-in features like Google Lens and PowerToys or rely on third-party apps, you can quickly extract and digitize text for various purposes. Mastering these tools will save time and streamline your workflow, whether you’re taking notes, sharing information, or creating documents.
