How to extract text from an image, screenshot or scanned PDF
Copying text out of a picture is called OCR, optical character recognition. Several devices can do it without extra software, and a browser based tool covers the cases they miss, such as scanned PDFs. This guide compares the options and explains how to get accurate results.
Use what your device already has
- iPhone, iPad and Mac: recent versions have Live Text. Open a photo or screenshot, then touch and hold the words to select and copy them.
- Android: Google Lens, available from the camera and Google Photos on many phones, can select and copy text in a picture.
- Windows 11: the Snipping Tool can recognize text in a capture so you can copy it.
- Google Docs: upload the picture to Google Drive, right click it and choose Open with Google Docs. The recognized text appears below the image.
Use a browser tool when you need more
Device features work picture by picture. A browser based OCR tool is handy when you have several files, a scanned PDF, or a computer without these features. Image to Text reads photos, screenshots and scanned PDFs in English, Spanish, French or German, and because it runs in your browser the files are not uploaded.
To use it, add the file or paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V, pick the language of the text and copy the result or download it as a text file.
Tips for accurate results
- Resolution matters. Scans around 300 dpi read well, while small, zoomed out screenshots lose letter detail.
- Keep the page straight and evenly lit. Tilted photos and shadows cause errors.
- Crop the picture to the text so borders and photos do not confuse the engine.
- Choose the correct language, because the engine uses a different model for each one.
- Always proofread names, numbers and punctuation before you use the text.
Limits to expect
- Printed text works best. Handwriting, especially cursive, is usually read poorly.
- The result is plain text. Tables, columns and formatting are not preserved.
- Very low quality photos, decorative fonts and curved pages reduce accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to put documents into an online OCR tool?
With a tool that uploads the file, you are trusting a server with it. This one reads the picture in your browser, so the file stays on your device.
Can I extract text from a PDF?
Yes, if it is a scan or a PDF made of pictures. Add the PDF and each page is read in turn. PDFs that already contain real text can simply be copied from a PDF viewer.
Why is some of the text wrong?
OCR engines guess letters from shapes, so blur, small type, shadows or the wrong language setting cause mistakes. Try a sharper, cropped image and check the language.
Try the converters
- Image to Text Converter (OCR)Add a photo, screenshot or scanned PDF and get the words back as text you can copy.
- PDF to Text ConverterAdd a PDF and get its text back to copy or save as a text file.
- PDF to PNG ConverterOpen a PDF and save each page as a PNG image.
- JPG to PDF ConverterAdd one or more images, put them in order and create a single PDF.
Last reviewed October 2026. Steps on other systems can change between versions, so check the menu names on your own device. Convert In Place is not affiliated with Apple, Google, Microsoft or Adobe.