How to get text out of an image
- Drop a picture or screenshot that contains text into the box, or click it to choose a file.
- Pick the language of the text. Choose Hindi + English if the picture mixes both.
- Click Extract text. The first run in a language downloads that language data, so it can take a little longer.
- Read the result in the text box and fix any wrong letters by hand.
- Use Copy text or Download .txt to keep it.
Tips for better results
- Use a sharp, straight picture. A screenshot reads far better than a photo taken at an angle.
- Crop away borders and pictures around the text before you upload it, if you can.
- Choose the right language. Reading Hindi text with the English setting gives wrong letters.
- Dark text on a plain light background gives the best result.
Limits to know about
- Reading text from pictures is never perfect. Check numbers, names and spelling before you use the result.
- Handwriting, stylised fonts, very small text and low-contrast photos often come out wrong.
- The language data is downloaded from a public server the first time you use a language, so you need an internet connection for that step.
- Tables and columns are read as plain lines of text. Layout is not kept.
- Very large pictures take longer and may be slow on older phones.
Privacy
Your picture is read inside your browser and is not uploaded to ToolsRiver. Only the language data file is downloaded from a public server. No account is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Is this image to text tool free?
Yes. It is free, has no daily limit that we set, and needs no sign-up.
Which languages can it read?
English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu, Arabic, French, German and Spanish, plus a Hindi + English mix.
Why are some words wrong?
The reader guesses letters from shapes. Blur, small size, shadows and unusual fonts cause mistakes. A cleaner picture helps.
Can I read a scanned PDF?
This tool takes image files. For a PDF, use the OCR PDF tool on this site, or save the page as an image first.
Is my picture sent to a server?
No. The text is read on your device. Only the language data is fetched.
About this tool
ToolsRiver Image to Text reads printed text from JPG, PNG, WebP, BMP and GIF files in your browser using open-source text recognition. It is made for quick copying of text from screenshots, notices and photos of documents.