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Convert an image or screenshot to text using online tools, mobile apps, and more
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There might be a time you need to copy the text in that funny Internet meme you found on Facebook or Reddit. The problem is, your browser will not let you highlight and copy the text in the image. Luckily, there are various ways to do this easily and quickly.
A Simple Guide to Copy Text from Images
- Use Adobe's online tools to convert your image to PDF quickly, then copy the text in a PDF reader, like Adobe Reader.
- You can also copy text in an image using other tools like Google Drive and Word.
- If you're using an Android, iPhone, or iPad, you can use OCR tools to extract text from an image.
Steps
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Convert your image to a PDF. Go to https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/online/jpg-to-pdf.html and make your image a PDF . Even though that tool specifically says "JPG," it also supports other image file types, like PNG and BMP.- Click Select a File to upload your image, then download the converted document.
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Open the PDF in any PDF reader and copy the text. You can use any PDF reader, like Adobe Reader, to copy the text from the image.- Although Adobe offers products with a subscription, you can use the online tools and Adobe Reader for free! [1] X Research source
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Upload your image to Google Drive, then open it in Google Docs. Go to https://drive.google.com/drive/home and click + to upload a new file .- Once the file uploads, right-click it ( or hold down Ctrl and click if you're on Mac ) and select Open with > Google Docs .
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Copy the text. Once the file is opened in Google Docs, you can highlight and copy the text.- The formatting might not be identical, but you can copy any text in the image.
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Paste the image in Word. This method takes a few steps, but if you have Word, you can use it instead of the other options. -
Save your file as a PDF. Go to File > Save as and select the "Document type" as "PDF." -
Open the PDF in Word. With Word already open, go to File > Open and select the document with your image.- Alternatively, right-click the file in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and choose Open with > Word .
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Click OK and wait for Word to convert your document. The text may automatically be extracted for you. If not, you can easily highlight the text and copy it.
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Tips
- Extracting text from an image is easier as long as the image has good lighting, resolution, and is clear of edits. Altered images may not work as well when you're trying to copy text.Thanks
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