Image to text converter
This image to text converter extracts text from a JPG, a PNG or a screenshot in 123 languages, for free.
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Extract text from a scan, turn a document into an office file, or build a searchable PDF. Pick an app and go.
What the image to text converter does
Copy text from an image instead of retyping it
There are many situations where you may want to extract text from an image file. The image format does not matter; you can easily convert JPG, PNG, TIF, WEBP, and more.
Scans: If you scan articles, papers, receipts, invoices, or other documents, they may be saved as images.
Screenshots: Taking a screenshot of a page usually creates a PNG or JPG image.
Photos: To better follow a presentation, speech, or conference, it is often easier to take a quick photo of the slides and then focus on listening to the speaker.
To work with the text, search for keywords, copy and paste quotes, or store paperwork digitally, a text document is more practical than an image file.
Photos, screenshots and handwritten notes
Not every image is a clean scan. A photo of a page curves and shadows the text, a screenshot flattens it, and handwriting is not print at all. This converter has a separate OCR engine for each of those cases.
Photo OCR is built for text inside a photograph, such as a sign, a menu or a slide shot from the back of a room. Advanced AI-OCR handles low-quality or imperfect scans, and Advanced AI-OCR+ is for pages photographed in poor light or under a shadow.
Handwriting is the hard case. The AI engines read many handwritten notes, but a printed page always converts more accurately than a handwritten one. Standard OCR stays free and is still the fastest choice for a sharp, clean image.
What is a TXT file?
The .txt file extension is used for plain text files. These files contain lines of text and can be opened in many text editors on different platforms and devices. The text does not contain any formatting.
Plain text is the most portable thing an image can become. It opens in Notepad, TextEdit, Word, Google Docs and any code editor, it can be searched, and it can be pasted anywhere without carrying formatting with it.
File extension: .txt, MIME type: text/plain
TXT on WikipediaWhich OCR engine should you choose?
What is OCR? Optical character recognition is used to identify letters, numbers, or special characters in a scanned document or image. Using an OCR converter, you can extract the text from such files so you can change, edit, print, or save it.
| OCR engine | Best for | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Standard OCR | Best for clean, perfectly scanned documents. Fastest option. | Free, no account needed |
| Advanced AI-OCR | AI-powered text recognition for low-quality or imperfect scans. | Paid upgrade |
| Advanced AI-OCR+ | AI-powered text recognition for documents with poor lighting or shadows. | Paid upgrade |
| Photo OCR | AI-powered text extraction from photos, e.g. street scenes. | Paid upgrade |
Standard OCR is the free option and needs no account. The three AI engines are a paid upgrade. All four read the same 123 document languages, and you can select more than one when a page mixes them.
Image to text for a picture, a photo or a screenshot
Picture to text
Upload a picture of a book page, a form or a whiteboard and the picture to text converter returns the words as plain text you can edit.
Photo to text
A photo of a slide, a receipt or a street sign becomes text. Photo OCR is tuned for pictures taken with a phone rather than for flat scans.
Screenshot to text
The text in a screenshot cannot be selected, because a screenshot is a PNG or a JPG image. Upload it here and copy the words out instead of typing them again.
How to convert an image to text
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Upload
Upload your image, whether it is PNG, JPG, GIF, or another format.
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Adjust
Select the language of the text in your image (optional).
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Convert
Click "Start", then download your extracted text.
Image to text FAQ
Is this image to text converter free?
Yes. Standard OCR is free, needs no account and costs no credits. Upload the image, press Start and download the text. The three AI engines are a paid upgrade for photos and imperfect scans.
How do I extract text from an image?
Upload the image, select the language of the text, then press Start. The converter reads the page and returns a TXT file you can open in any text editor.
Which image formats does the image to text converter accept?
All common image formats, including JPG, PNG, TIF, GIF, BMP and WEBP. The app takes images only. To pull the text out of a PDF, use the PDF to text app instead.
Can I convert a JPG or a PNG to text?
Yes. JPG to text and PNG to text are the two most common jobs on this page. The result is the same plain text file, whichever of the two you upload.
Can the image to text converter read handwriting?
Often, yes. The AI engines recognize many handwritten notes, though printed text converts far more accurately than cursive. Start with Advanced AI-OCR, and use Photo OCR when the note was photographed rather than scanned.
How many languages does the text recognition support?
123, from English, Spanish and Portuguese to Hindi, Arabic, Japanese and Korean. Select more than one language when a page mixes them and the text recognition looks for all of them.
Can the image to text converter handle several images at once?
Yes. Add as many images as you need and they are converted in one go, each returned as its own text file with the same settings applied.
What happens to the image I upload?
It is sent over an encrypted connection and processed automatically on servers in Europe. Nobody reads or copies your files, they are not used to train AI models, and the download link is random, so it cannot be guessed.
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