Image to Text (OCR)
The first use downloads the reading engine (about 15 to 25 MB). After that it is kept by your browser.
Free to use. Runs in your browser: your files and text are not uploaded.
Pull the words out of a picture so you can copy and edit them. This is called optical character recognition, or OCR. It works on screenshots, scanned pages and photos of printed text.
How to use it
- Choose an image that contains text.
- Pick the language the text is written in.
- Press Read text and wait for the progress bar.
- Correct any mistakes in the box, then press Copy.
How it works
The tool uses Tesseract, an open-source OCR engine, running inside your browser. It finds lines of text in the picture, splits them into words and letters, and matches the shapes against the language you chose. Choosing the right language matters: reading Hindi text with English selected gives nonsense.
Getting better results
- Use a sharp, well-lit picture. Blur and shadows cause most mistakes.
- Text should be level, not tilted.
- Small text reads better if the picture is large. Letters under about 20 pixels tall are often misread.
- Dark text on a plain light background works best.
Limits
- Tables and multi-column pages may come out in the wrong order.
- Handwriting, decorative fonts and text over busy backgrounds are read poorly.
- Always check numbers, such as amounts and phone numbers, against the original.
Frequently asked questions
How do I copy text from an image?
Choose the image, pick the language of the text, and press Read text. The text appears in a box that you can edit and copy.
Can it read handwriting?
Not reliably. The engine is built for printed and on-screen text. Neat handwriting may partly work, but expect many mistakes.
Why does the first use take longer?
The first time, your browser downloads the reading engine and the data for the language you chose, about 15 to 25 MB. Later uses start faster because your browser keeps them.