How to extract text from images on Windows 11

To extract text from images with Snipping Tool, capture a screenshot, click “Text Actions,” select the text, right-click the selection, and choose the “Copy text” option. Or choose the “Copy all text” option from the “Text Actions” menu.
To copy text from images and screenshots using the Photos app, open the picture, and use the “Copy all text” button or select, right-click the selection, and choose the copy option.
To extract text from pictures on Windows 11, use the “Windows key + Shift + T” keyboard shortcut and select the text to extract and copy the contents to the clipboard. The feature works as long as you have PowerToys installed.
To copy text from an image using Click to Do, use the “Windows key + Q” shortcut, select, and copy the text.

UPDATED 12/19/2024: On Windows 11, you can extract text from any image file in at least four ways, including the Snipping Tool, Photos app, Click to Do, and using the “Text Extractor” feature available on PowerToys from Microsoft. In this guide, I will show you how I use these features to copy text with ease. The feature will come in handy in many situations. For example, when you need to copy text from a receipt that you may have taken a picture of, information from an important document, or to get the address or phone number of a sign in the background of a picture.

The Snipping Tool and Photos app come with OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology, but you will have different options depending on the app. For example, in the Snipping Tool, you can redact text before sharing a screenshot and copy text from a screenshot to the clipboard. On the other hand, in the Photos app, you can copy text as soon as you open the image, but you cannot redact content.

PowerToys is an application that includes a set of utilities to improve the Windows experience. Although it is aimed at advanced users, anyone can use it. For instance, the app includes a window manager to make it easier to create different layouts. It also includes an image resizer, bulk file rename tool, keyboard manager to remap keys, and color picker. Also, you’ll find the “Text Extractor,” which uses OCR technology to extract text from any image format.

If you have a Copilot+ PC featuring the latest processor from Qualcomm, AMD, or Intel, you will have access to the “Click to Do” feature. Click to Do is a feature that works inside and outside the Windows Recall feature, enabling you to interact directly with on-screen content. Using the on-device AI models, it analyzes text and images displayed on your screen and provides actionable suggestions, one of which is the ability to extract text from images.

The difference between these applications is that the “Text Extractor” feature from PowerToys and Click to Do allow you to extract text from any content on the screen without downloading or opening an image.

In this guide, I will teach you the steps to extract text from any image or screenshot on Windows 11.

Extract text from images on Windows 11 from Snipping Tool
Extract text from images on Windows 11 from Photos
Extract text from images on Windows 11 from PowerToys
Extract text from images on Windows 11 from Click to Do

Extract text from images on Windows 11 from Snipping Tool

To extract text from any image using the Snipping Tool, use these steps:

Open the Snipping Tool on Windows 11.
Click the Snip button.
Click the New button.
Choose the snipping mode.
Capture the screenshot on Windows 11.
Select the text, right-click the selection, and choose the “Copy text” option.
(Optional) Click the “Text actions” button and choose the “Copy all text” option to extract all the text from the screenshot image.

After you complete the steps, you can paste the text into any document as necessary.

Extract text from images on Windows 11 from Photos

To extract text from pictures or screenshots using the Photos app, use these steps:

Open the Photos app.

Quick tip: You can also right-click the image and choose the option to open it with the Photos app.
(Option 1) Click the Copy all text button at the bottom of the page.
(Option 2) Select the text on an image as if you were editing a text file, right-click the selection, and choose the “Copy text” or “Select all text” option.

Once you complete the steps, you can paste the extracted text into any document, text file, or online post.

The option to extract text through the Photos app is available starting with version 2024.11100.17007.0 or higher.

Extract text from images on Windows 11 from PowerToys

Once you have PowerToys installed and the “Text Extractor” feature enabled, extracting text from an image is straightforward. Here’s how:

Open the image on Windows 11.

Quick note: You can open the image with any application. You can even extract text from an image embedded on a web page. Also, it doesn’t necessarily have to be an image. You can select any text on the screen.
Use the “Windows key + Shift + T” keyboard shortcut.
Select the text you want to extract from the images to copy the contents to the clipboard automatically.
Right-click and select the Paste option on the application you want to paste the extracted text.

The feature isn’t perfect. You can select multiple lines, but try one line at a time if the text extraction isn’t working correctly. Also, select the text correctly without cutting off the letters at the top or bottom.

Install PowerToys

The easiest way to install PowerToys on Windows 11 is using Command Prompt using these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to install the latest version of PowerToys and press Enter:
```
winget install --id Microsoft.PowerToys
```

Once you complete the steps, you can enable the feature (if it’s not already enabled.)

Enable Text Extractor

To enable the option to extract text from images on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for PowerToys and click the top result to open the app.
Click on System Tools.
Click on Text Extractor.
Turn on the “Enable Text Extractor” toggle switch.
(Optional) Click the edit (pencil) button to change the activation shortcut.

After you complete the steps, you can use the keyboard shortcut to activate the feature and extract text from the image.

Extract text from images on Windows 11 from Click to Do

In these instructions, I will outline the steps to extract text outside and inside the Recall application. I assume you have already enabled Windows Recall on your Copilot+ PC for these steps.

From outside Recall

To extract text from images using Click to Do on Windows 11, use these steps:

Use the “Windows key + Q” keyboard shortcut to open Click to Do.

Quick note: You will also use the “Windows key + mouse click” shortcut, or you can find the app in the Start menu.
(Option 1) Select the text to extract from the image on the screen and choose the Copy option.
(Option 2) Select the text to extract from the image, choose “Open with,” and select the app to send the text, such as Notepad.

From inside Recall

To copy text from an image with Click to Do within the Recall app, use these steps:

Open the Recall app.
Select the snapshot with the text you want to extract.
(Option 1) Select the text to extract from the image on the screen and choose the Copy option.
(Option 2) Select the text to extract from the image, choose “Open with,” and select the app to send the text, such as Notepad.

Once you complete the steps, the text will copy to the clipboard, and you can then paste it into any application.

Update December 19, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.