How to Copy Text from an Image Using the Snipping Tool

The Snipping Tool in Windows is perfect for quickly capturing screenshots, but to extract text from an image, additional tools are required. This guide will show you how to copy text from a picture using the Snipping Tool and a few supplementary programs.

Step 1: Capture a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool

First, open the Snipping Tool and select the screen area containing the text you want to capture. Click the "New" button, then highlight the desired portion of your screen. The screenshot will automatically appear in the Snipping Tool window.

Step 2: Save the Screenshot

After creating the screenshot, click on “Save As” and choose a location for the file. This will allow you to upload it later to a text recognition tool.

Step 3: Use an OCR Tool to Recognize Text

To extract text from the image, you'll need a program with OCR (Optical Character Recognition) capabilities. Some popular and accessible options include:

• OneNote: Open OneNote and insert the image. Right-click on the image and select "Copy Text from Picture". OneNote will automatically recognize the text and copy it to your clipboard.
• Google Keep: Upload the image to Google Keep. Click on the image, select the three-dot menu, and choose "Grab Image Text". Google Keep will extract the text and display it below the image.
• OCR Programs: Dedicated OCR applications like Adobe Acrobat or online services such as OCR.Space and Online OCR can quickly convert images into text.

Step 4: Review and Copy the Text

After text recognition, check for errors as OCR may occasionally misinterpret characters. Once the text is accurate, copy it to use as needed.