Image to Text (OCR)

Read the text in a picture or scan in English, Hindi or Marathi and copy it. Your picture stays in your browser.

The picture stays in your browser.

The first time, the reader and the English language data are downloaded (a few MB). Your picture is not uploaded.

Language of the text

Shortcuts: Ctrl+Enter run · Ctrl+Shift+C copy result · / search (use ⌘ on Mac)

Next steps

Done here? Use the Send to… menu on the result to carry it on to Images to PDF.

Free Online Image to Text (OCR)

Copy the text out of a photo, a screenshot or a scan. Choose the language, press Read text and copy the result. The picture is read on your device. It gives developers a quick browser-based way to solve a focused image to text (ocr) task before moving the result into a project.

How to get text from a picture

Drop a picture in the box, choose English, Hindi or Marathi and press Read text. The first time, the reading engine and the language are downloaded (a few megabytes); after that they are kept by your browser.

Network use

This is the one DevStackKit tool that downloads something to work: the reading engine and language data come from a public content network. Your picture is never sent.

Common mistakes

Choosing English for a Hindi or Marathi page: the result is nonsense. Choose the language of the text.
Using a small, blurry or dark picture: zoom in or retake it. Large clear text is read best.

Frequently asked questions

Is my picture uploaded?

No. The picture is read in your browser. The only thing downloaded is the reading engine and the language data, once, and your browser keeps it for next time.

How big is the download?

The engine and one language are a few megabytes in total, shown on the page before you start. After the first time it comes from your browser's cache, so it is fast and works with a weak connection.

How can I get a better result?

Use a sharp, straight, well-lit picture with dark text on a light background, and choose the right language. Photos taken at an angle or in shadow, or handwriting, are read poorly.

What is the confidence number?

It is how sure the reader is about each line, from 0 to 100. Check lines with a low number against the picture.

How do I use this image to text (ocr) tool?

Use the interactive controls above; processing stays in your browser and the result is intended as a practical starting point for development work.

More PDF & Documents

Merge PDFCombine PDFs into one file Split PDFSplit a PDF into parts Organize PDFReorder, rotate or delete PDF pages Images to PDFTurn photos into one PDF

View all PDF & Documents tools →