Find the text
The tool first looks for areas of the image that contain writing.
Free OCR tool
Convert Image to Text
Pull the text out of photos, screenshots and scans, then copy it or download it — right in your browser.
- No sign-up
- Images stay on your device
- Copy or download text
How to Convert an Image to Text
This tool reads the words in a picture and turns them into text you can edit, copy and paste. It works well on screenshots, labels, receipts, signs and printed pages.
The text reader runs entirely inside this browser tab. Your images are never uploaded, so you can use it for private documents too.
For the best results
- Keep it sharp — hold the camera steady and make sure the text is in focus.
- Use good light — avoid shadows and glare across the words.
- Shoot straight on — photos taken at an angle are harder to read.
- Crop to the text — less background means fewer mistakes.
To use this tool, start with Step 1 below. In Step 1: Add images, choose, drop or paste images — you can read 15 free images a day. The tool starts reading straight away — the first time, it downloads its text reader (about 10 MB). In Step 2: Review and export, each image sits next to its text so you can compare them, fix any mistakes, then copy the text or download it as a .txt file.
Each result shows a confidence score — how sure the reader is about the text. It's an estimate, so give anything marked Low a closer look.
One important note: your images and text stay in this browser tab and are cleared when you refresh or close the page. Copy or download your text before you leave.
Step 1 of 2
Add images
Choose files, drag them here, or paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac).
Drop images here
or paste a screenshot from your clipboard
JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF or BMP · up to 100 MB each
Free: 15 of 15 images left today · no sign-up
Step 2 of 2
Review and export
Compare each image with its text, fix anything that looks wrong, then copy or download.
Add an image to start reading text.
Your images and text will appear here side by side
Add images in Step 1 and the tool will start reading them.
Your images and text stay in this browser tab and are cleared when you refresh or close the page.
Image to text guide
Get clean, usable text from your images
A little preparation makes a big difference. Here is how the tool works, how to get better results, and what it can and can't do.
The basics
What is OCR?
OCR stands for optical character recognition. It is how a computer finds the words in a picture and turns them into text you can edit, search and copy.
Read each line
Each area is read letter by letter and turned into words.
Put it in order
Lines are arranged top to bottom. Pieces on the same row are joined with a “·”.
Hand it to you
You get editable text that you can fix, copy or download.
Better results
Tips for extracting text from photos
Most reading mistakes come from the photo, not the text. These habits help the most.
Keep it sharp
Tap to focus and hold still. Blurry letters are the most common cause of mistakes.
Light it evenly
Use daylight or a bright room. Avoid shadows, reflections and glare on glossy labels.
Shoot straight on
Hold the camera parallel to the page. Text photographed at an angle is harder to read.
Crop to the text
Cut away busy backgrounds so only the words you need are left.
Prefer screenshots
For text on a screen, a screenshot is clearer than a photo of the screen.
Make small text bigger
Move closer or zoom in so tiny print fills more of the picture.
What you can add
Supported image formats
Read up to 15 images a day for free, each up to 100 MB. Very large images are scaled down before reading.
| Format | Support | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| JPG / JPEG | Supported | Most phone photos and many downloaded images. |
| PNG | Supported | Screenshots and graphics. Usually the sharpest results. |
| WebP | Supported | Common for images saved from websites. |
| GIF | First frame only | Animated GIFs are read from their first frame. |
| BMP | Supported | Older Windows bitmap images. |
| HEIC / HEIF | Depends on browser | iPhone photos. If it won't open, convert it to JPG first. |
Set expectations
What this tool can't do well
It is built for clear, printed text in English and other Latin-alphabet languages. Expect to make corrections in these cases.
Handwriting
Joined-up or messy handwriting is often misread. Neat block capitals have a better chance.
Decorative fonts
Script, heavily stylized or very condensed lettering can confuse the reader.
Very small or blurry text
Fine print in a wide photo may be skipped or misread. Move closer or crop first.
This tool focuses on plain text you can copy and paste, so tables and multi-column layouts come out as lines of text and you may need to tidy the order. Languages that don't use the Latin alphabet haven't been tested.
Common questions
Image to text FAQ
Quick answers about extracting text from images, photos and screenshots.
How do I convert an image to text?
Add your image in Step 1 by choosing a file, dragging it onto the page, or pasting it with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac). The tool reads the text automatically. In Step 2, each image sits next to its text so you can check it, fix any mistakes, then copy it or download it as a .txt file.
Is this image to text converter really free?
Yes. There is no sign-up. You can read up to 15 images a day for free, and your free allowance resets at midnight.
Are my images uploaded anywhere?
No. The text reader runs inside your browser tab, so your images and the extracted text never leave your device. Everything is cleared when you refresh or close the page. The page only remembers how many images you've read today, so it can apply the free daily allowance.
Can I extract text from a screenshot?
Yes. Screenshots usually give the best results because the text is sharp and straight. Take the screenshot, click on this page, and paste it with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V.
Can I turn a phone photo into text?
Yes. On a phone, tap Choose images to pick a photo or take a new one with your camera. For the best results, hold the phone straight above the text, use good light, and keep the words in focus.
Which image formats are supported?
JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF (the first frame) and BMP work in all modern browsers. iPhone HEIC photos only work if your browser can open them; if not, convert the photo to JPG first. Each image can be up to 100 MB; very large images are scaled down before reading.
How accurate is the text recognition?
It is very good on clear, printed text such as screenshots, labels, receipts and documents, but no OCR tool is perfect. Blurry photos, unusual fonts and very small text can cause mistakes, so the tool shows each image next to its text, gives every result a confidence score, and highlights results that are worth double-checking.
Can it read handwriting?
Handwriting is not a strength of this tool. Neat block capitals may work, but joined-up or messy handwriting is often misread. It is designed for printed and on-screen text.
Which languages does it support?
The text reader is tuned for English and other languages written in the Latin alphabet. Other scripts have not been tested, so results for them may be unreliable.
Why does the first image take longer?
The first time you use the tool, your browser downloads the text reader (about 10 MB). After that it is cached, so later images and visits start much faster. Each image then usually takes a few seconds, depending on your device.