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Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsoft's PowerToys

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Release: 2023-08-03 17:25:05
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When Windows 11 was first released, many power users were disappointed with the lack of tools provided by the operating system. Microsoft has been developing PowerToys for a long time as it provides more powerful tools to perform various tasks on PC. Many features and tools have been added to PowerToys over the years, the latest addition being a text extractor. This new advanced tool allows you to copy text from anywhere on the screen, whether it's a blog post, image, website, or even an app. So if you've ever found yourself typing text that you can't copy, Text Extractor is the perfect tool for you. Let’s take a quick look at it and how to use it on your PC.

What is a text extractor and what can it do?

Text Extractor is a new tool in PowerToys that can copy text from anywhere on the screen. Text extractor programs use OCR to recognize text in a selected area and then convert it into recognizable characters for use on your computer. After activating the text extractor, you can select the area on the screen where you want to extract text. When you click and drag to select the area, the text is automatically recognized and copied to the clipboard. You can then paste the text wherever you like.

How to Extract Text from Microsoft on Windows using PowerToys

Now that you are familiar with the text extractor in PowerToys, here’s how to use it on your PC. First, you need to install the relevant OCR language pack for your computer. Once done, you can install PowerToys and use the text extractor as needed.

Step 1: Install OCR Language Pack

Text Extractor uses OCR to recognize text from text selected on the screen. Therefore, you need to install the relevant language pack on your PC so that the text extractor can work as expected. Follow the steps below to help you install the relevant OCR language pack on your computer.

Open Run by pressing your PC. Windows R

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys
#Type the following and press . Ctrl Shift Enter

powershell

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

##Now use the following command to get the OCR language pack. Replace

[language code] with the relevant code for your language from one of the options below.

$Capability = Get-WindowsCapability -Online | Where-Object { $_.Name -Like 'Language.OCR*[Language Code]<strong>*' }</strong>

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

##LanguageLanguage codeArabic – Saudi ArabiaChinese – Taiwan German – German ##GreekEl-GREnglish – United Statesen-US Spanish – Spain (traditional sorting) ES-ESItalian – ItalyIT-Information Technology日本语Jia-JPKoreanKokerRussianRURUSweden Languagesv-SEUrdu – PakistanYour PKHiHi
ar-SA
zh-TW
德德
## Seal Idiom

NOTE: If your language is not listed above, you can find a complete list of all Microsoft language codes at this link.

After completion, use the following command to install the package.

$Capability | Add-WindowsCapability -Online

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

When completed, you should get output similar to the one below.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

#Now use the following command to check if the OCR language pack is installed and detected.

Get-WindowsCapability -Online | Where-Object { $_.Name -Like 'Language.OCR*' }

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Now you will get a list of language packs and whether they are installed or not. Use the steps above to check for installed language packs. It should read "Installed" next to "Status".

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Now close PowerShell using the following command.

exit

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

That’s it! Now you have installed the relevant OCR language pack on your PC.

Step 2: Install PowerToys and use Text Extractor

We can now install PowerToys on your PC and use Text Extractor. Please follow the steps below to help you through the process.

Visit this link to the PowerToys GitHub release page. Scroll down and click PowerToysUserSetup-0.71.0-x64.exe to download it to your PC. If you have an ARM-based computer, click and download the relevant executable file. Additionally, if you wish to use a portable copy of PowerToys, you can download the .ZIP file.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

#After initiating the download, save the settings to a convenient location on your PC. Double click and launch the installer after downloading n.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Now you will see the license agreement for PowerToys. Select the I agree to the license terms and agreement checkbox.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Click on options.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Click "Browse" to select the location where you want to install PowerToys.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Select your preferred location and click OK.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Click "OK" again.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Now click "Install" to install PowerToys.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

PowerToys will now be installed on your PC.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

When finished, click Close.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Now, press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start menu and search for PowerToys. Click and launch the app after it appears in search results.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

PowerToys has tons of tools and options for customization. You can adjust these settings to your liking and activate the required tools. Let's take a look at how to customize and use the text extractor in this guide. Click on Text Extractor in the left sidebar.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Now click and enable the

Enable Text Extractor toggle at the top.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Click the

Edit icon next to Activate shortcut.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

# Now press your preferred key combination that you wish to use to activate the text extractor on your PC.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Click

Save to save the combination.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

#If you wish to restore to the default key combination, click Reset.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

You can also click

"Cancel" to abort creating the key combination.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Now click on the drop-down menu of

Preferred Language and select the language you want to use with the text extractor.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

We can now use the text extractor wherever we like. Let's take a look at how to extract text from a web page in this example. Visit the preferred web page from which you wish to capture text.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Scroll to the text you want to copy and press the key combination you set for the text extractor in the guide above. If you haven't changed the key combination, you can press the keyboard to activate the text extractor.

Windows Shift T

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Now click and drag to select the text you want to extract.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

The text in the selected area will be automatically extracted and copied to the clipboard. Now you can paste it anywhere you like by pressing .

Ctrl V

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Similarly, you can also extract text from images, applications, etc. Let’s try to extract text from the Settings app in this example. Press to open the

Settings app. Windows i

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Now press the key combination to activate the text extractor. If no custom combination is set, press . As we did before, click and drag on the screen to select the text you want to extract.

Windows Shift T

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Now the text will be extracted and copied to the clipboard. You can now press to paste the text anywhere you like.

Ctrl V

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

This is how you can use text extractor on PC.

How to remove OCR language pack when removing PowerToys

Sometimes you may want to remove an installed OCR language pack from your computer. Here's how you can do it. Please follow the steps below to help you through the process.

Press to openRun. Windows R

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Type the following and press . Ctrl Shift Enter

powershell

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

##Now use the following command to check the installed OCR language pack.

Get-WindowsCapability -Online | Where-Object { $_.Name -Like 'Language.OCR*' }

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

You should now get a list like the one below. Check

"Status" under the listed language pack. If any language pack appears as "Installed", that language pack is already installed on your computer. Make a note of its language code, it will be after ~~~.

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

After taking note of it, use the following command to delete the language pack from your computer. Replace

[language code] with the code you noted down earlier.

$Capability = Get-WindowsCapability -Online | Where-Object { $_.Name -Like 'Language.OCR*[Language code]<strong>*' }</strong>

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Next, apply the changes using the following command.

$Capability | Remove-WindowsCapability -Online

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

Type the following and press Enter to close PowerShell.

exit

Learn how to extract text from an image, PDF, or screen using Microsofts PowerToys

That’s it! Now you have removed the selected OCR language pack from your PC.

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