To copy text from an image on Windows 11, press Windows key + Shift + S, capture the area, open the capture in Snipping Tool and select Text actions. You can then select and copy part of the text or copy all of it. If you grab text from images often, IntelliClip from Automata Labs saves every copied snippet in a searchable, persistent clipboard history, so the text you pulled out of a screenshot this morning is still there this afternoon.
Keep every snippet you copy from screenshots searchable and one shortcut away.
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How do I copy text from a screenshot with Snipping Tool?
Microsoft’s Snipping Tool guide describes the capture and Text actions workflow:
- Press Windows key + Shift + S, or open Snipping Tool, and capture the part of the screen that has the text.
- Open the capture in Snipping Tool.
- Select the Text actions button to recognize the text in the image.
- Choose what to do: select text with the cursor and copy it, use Copy all text, or use Quick redact to hide email addresses and phone numbers before you share the image.
Microsoft says Text actions recognition happens locally on your device. Snipping Tool can save captures automatically, but check its Settings and save location rather than assuming a screenshot was kept. For more on where captures end up, see where screenshots go on Windows 11.
For an image file you already have, such as a photo of a whiteboard, open it on screen at a readable size, capture it with Windows key + Shift + S, and use Text actions on the capture.
How do I copy text from anywhere on screen with PowerToys Text Extractor?
If you have Microsoft PowerToys installed, Text Extractor skips the screenshot step. Microsoft’s Text Extractor documentation describes it this way:
- Press Windows key + Shift + T, the default shortcut.
- Drag a box around the text on screen. Hold Shift to move the box, and press Esc to cancel.
- The recognized text goes straight to your clipboard.
Microsoft warns that the text may not be perfect, so proofread it. Microsoft’s own page also recommends Snipping Tool if what you want is a screenshot rather than just the text.
How do I make Text Extractor read another language?
Microsoft’s Text Extractor documentation explains that the default OCR language follows your Windows system language, and that you can pick a Preferred language in Text Extractor settings. Recognition depends on an installed OCR language pack.
To see which packs are available, the documentation says to open PowerShell as an administrator and run:
Get-WindowsCapability -Online | Where-Object { $_.Name -Like 'Language.OCR*' }Packs listed as NotPresent must be installed first. Microsoft’s page gives the install commands and notes that installing a pack may take several minutes. After that, choose the language in Text Extractor settings and capture again.
Snipping Tool vs Text Extractor: which should I use?
| Question | Snipping Tool Text actions | PowerToys Text Extractor |
|---|---|---|
| Shortcut | Windows key + Shift + S, then Text actions | Windows key + Shift + T |
| Install needed | Built into Windows 11 | Requires PowerToys |
| Saves an image too | Yes, to the Screenshots folder | No, text only |
| Pick part of the text | Yes, select with the cursor | Drag a box around just that part |
| Redact emails and phone numbers | Yes, Quick redact | No |
| Best for | Text you may also need as an image | Fast one-off grabs from any window |
Both put the text on the Windows clipboard. That is also their shared weak point: the clipboard holds one thing at a time.
Why do I lose text I copied from an image?
The usual story: you pull an error message out of a screenshot, paste it into a search, then copy a link, then copy a file path. The error text is gone. Windows clipboard history, opened with Windows key + V, helps, but it is a short list that is easy to lose track of. For a comparison of what it keeps, see Office clipboard vs Windows clipboard history.
This matters more for OCR text than for normal copying, because recreating it means finding the image again and running recognition again. A searchable history removes that step.
Search your clipboard history by a few letters and paste the right item instantly.
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How does IntelliClip help when I copy text from images?
IntelliClip does not read text from images. Windows and PowerToys do that part. IntelliClip keeps what you copy:
- Persistent history. Copied text, links, images and file paths are saved locally and survive restarts.
- Search. Type a few letters of the error code, invoice number or address you copied earlier and paste it.
- Keyboard launcher. Press your shortcut, type, and paste without touching the mouse.
- Password-aware. It avoids saving sensitive password-manager content.
- Offline. History stays on your PC with no cloud sync and no telemetry.
A practical workflow: grab text with Text actions or Text Extractor, paste it where you need it, and move on. When you need it again, open IntelliClip and search instead of hunting for the screenshot.
What text is hard for Windows to read from images?
OCR is good with clean, printed text and weaker with:
- Small or blurry text. Zoom the source before capturing.
- Handwriting and decorative fonts. Expect mistakes and proofread.
- Text over busy backgrounds. Capture a tighter area.
- Languages without an installed OCR pack. Text Extractor can only recognize languages whose OCR pack is installed, per Microsoft’s documentation.
- Tables. Columns often come out as lines of text. Paste into a spreadsheet and tidy up, or capture one column at a time.
For scanned construction drawings, a dedicated tool fits better, as covered in reading sheet numbers from a scanned plan set. If pasted text keeps changing its formatting, why pasted text changes formatting explains the clipboard formats involved.
Frequently asked questions
Can I copy text from a photo on my PC without a screenshot?
Yes. Open the photo on screen, then capture it with Snipping Tool and use Text actions, or drag a box over it with PowerToys Text Extractor.
Does copying text from images send the image online?
Microsoft says Snipping Tool’s text recognition is performed locally on your device. Text Extractor uses the OCR language packs installed on your PC.
Can I copy text from a paused video?
Yes. Pause the video, then use Text Extractor or capture the frame with Snipping Tool and use Text actions.
Can I hide personal details before sharing the screenshot?
Yes. In Snipping Tool, Text actions includes Quick redact, which hides email addresses and phone numbers in the capture. Check the result before you send it, because other personal details, such as names or account numbers, are not covered by that option.
Does IntelliClip do OCR?
No. IntelliClip is a clipboard manager. Use Snipping Tool or Text Extractor to read the text, and IntelliClip keeps what you copy searchable.
What if paste stops working entirely?
See copy and paste not working on Windows 11 for the usual fixes.
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A searchable, offline clipboard history for text, links, images and paths.
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Microsoft, Windows, PowerToys, Snipping Tool and PowerShell are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. IntelliClip is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft.
Last updated 28 October 2026. Published by Automata Labs, a software company in Canada.