How to extract text from an image on Windows 11 - Microsoft PowerToys

Extracting the text displayed on the image became possible several years ago on Android smartphones and iPhone.

There are many applications to perform the operation, among the best known solutions are Google Lens and Google Photos, which are two applications that are already installed on many Android smartphones.

Besides PowerToys Microsoft's toolkit, which provides Windows 11 with many very practical features, has recently added Text Extractor. Thanks to the very good integration of PowerToys into Windows, it is possible to use a simple keyboard shortcut to call it.

It then lets you select a portion of the image to be analyzed to extract the text and copy it to the Windows Clipboard, before pasting it into a document.

1. Download Microsoft PowerToys

Start by downloading PowerToys from here« and installing the app on your computer.

This free and open source toolkit allows you to add many features that Windows don't originally offer.

The tool also has very good integration since it runs automatically in the background when the operating system starts and allows you to launch the features it offers using different keyboard shortcuts.

2. Activate the Text Extractor

After installing PowerToys on your computer, click on the bottom right of the taskbar in the pane containing hidden icons and open PowerToys with a double-click on the appropriate icon.

Select the text extractor and make sure the option is activated.

3. Copy text from an image

Now open any image containing text that you want to extract on your device and then use the keyboard shortcut Windows + Shift + T.

A cross should then be displayed to create a selection area. Using your mouse or trackpad, select the area of ​​the image that contains the text you want to recover.

Now open a text editor, and paste the contents of the clipboard using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + V.

Then the text that appears on your photo will be automatically pasted into your text editor. You will be able to edit it, copy it again, and use it in any other application that allows you to insert text.