How to Extract Text from Images on iPhone, Android & Desktop

Have you ever needed to copy text from an image, screenshot, or photo? Whether it's a quote from a book, data from a receipt, or notes from a whiteboard, extracting text from images has become easier than ever with modern AI technology.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll show you the best methods to extract text from images on every platform.

Why Extract Text from Images?

There are countless situations where you might need to convert image text to editable text:

Digitizing printed documents - Turn paper documents into editable files

Copying text from screenshots - Extract information from app screenshots

Data entry automation - Convert receipts, invoices, and forms into digital data

Translating foreign text - Extract and translate text from photos taken abroad

Accessibility - Make image-based text accessible to screen readers

Method 1: Using an Online OCR Tool (Recommended)

The fastest and most universal method is using a free online tool like ImageToText.

Steps:

Go to the Image to Text converter

Upload your image by dragging and dropping, or click to browse

Click "Extract Text"

Copy the extracted text or download as a file

Advantages:

Works on any device with a browser

No app installation required

AI-powered for best accuracy

Supports multiple languages

Free to use

Method 2: iPhone (iOS 15+)

Apple's Live Text feature lets you extract text directly from photos.

Steps:

Open the Photos app and select your image

Tap and hold on the text in the image

Select "Copy" to copy the text

Paste it wherever you need

Limitations:

Only works on iPhone XS or later

Requires iOS 15 or later

May struggle with handwritten text

Method 3: Android (Google Lens)

Google Lens is built into most Android phones and can extract text from images.

Steps:

Open Google Photos and select your image

Tap the Lens icon at the bottom

Select "Text" mode

Highlight and copy the text

Method 4: Windows (Snipping Tool)

Windows 11's Snipping Tool includes OCR capabilities.

Steps:

Open Snipping Tool and capture a screenshot

Click the Text Actions button

Copy the extracted text

Method 5: Mac (Preview)

macOS Ventura and later supports Live Text in Preview.

Steps:

Open the image in Preview

Hover over text - it will be highlighted automatically

Select and copy the text

Which Method is Best?

For the best accuracy and language support, we recommend using an AI-powered online tool for superior text recognition.

Tips for Better Text Extraction

Use high-resolution images - The clearer the image, the better the results

Ensure good lighting - Avoid shadows and glare when taking photos

Keep text straight - Aligned text is easier for OCR to process

Use contrasting colors - Dark text on light backgrounds works best

Crop unnecessary areas - Remove non-text portions for faster processing

Conclusion

Extracting text from images is now incredibly simple with AI-powered tools. Whether you're on your phone, computer, or using a web browser, there's a solution for you. For the most accurate and versatile option, try our free Image to Text converter which supports 100+ languages and works on any device.