What Does the Image to Text Tool Do?
Got a screenshot of an error message, a photo of a receipt, or a scanned page you can't copy from? This free tool reads the text out of the image using OCR (optical character recognition) and hands it back to you as plain text you can copy, edit and paste anywhere.
It works on screenshots, phone photos, scanned documents and memes — anything with readable printed text. Everything runs in your browser with the open-source Tesseract engine, so your images are never uploaded anywhere.
How to Extract Text from an Image — Step by Step
1. Upload your image. Click the upload area or drag a screenshot or photo onto it. A preview appears so you can confirm it's the right file.
2. Pick the language. Choose the language the text is written in — English is the default. Urdu, Arabic, Hindi, Spanish and French are supported too.
3. Click Extract Text. The tool downloads the OCR model once (a few MB), then reads your image. A progress bar keeps you posted.
4. Copy your text. The extracted text appears in the result box. Hit Copy to grab it — then paste it into Word, WhatsApp, an email, anywhere.
Common Ways People Use It
- Copying error messages: screenshot a popup you can't select text from, extract the message, paste it into Google or a support chat.
- Digitizing notes and receipts: turn photos of paper into editable text instead of retyping.
- Grabbing text from social media: pull quotes out of shared images and screenshots.
- Reading scanned documents: get selectable text from scans without any software to install.
Your Images Never Leave Your Browser
OCR runs locally with the open-source Tesseract.js library. The language model downloads once from a CDN, but your image is never sent to any server — private by design.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the OCR?
Very good on clear screenshots and printed text — typically 95%+ on crisp images. Blurry, tilted or very small text reduces accuracy. For best results, use a sharp, straight-on screenshot.
Does it work with handwriting?
No. Tesseract reads printed text well but struggles with handwriting. Neat, clear handwriting may partially work, but don't count on it.
Which languages are supported?
English, Urdu, Arabic, Hindi, Spanish and French. Pick the language before extracting — matching the language gives the best accuracy.
Is there a file size limit?
Large images are fine — the tool loads them into memory locally. Very large photos (10+ MB) may take a little longer on slower phones.
Can I extract text from a PDF?
This tool works on image files. For a PDF, take a screenshot of the page first (or convert it to an image), then upload it here.