text extraction Archives

Winsage

May 7, 2025

A New Start Menu and More Major Upgrades Are Coming to Windows 11

Microsoft announced significant upgrades for Windows 11, including enhancements to the Start menu, Copilot AI, and utilities like Paint and the Snipping Tool. The Start menu will become larger, more customizable, and user-friendly, allowing users to view all apps at once, hide recommended shortcuts, and increase the size of the pinned apps panel. A "phone companion" feature will be integrated into the Start menu. These changes are expected to roll out to the Windows Insider channel within the next month. File Explorer will introduce AI actions for document summarization and image editing directly from the right-click menu. Notepad will gain AI text generation and summarization features, along with lightweight formatting options like bold, italic, lists, and Markdown support. Copilot Vision will allow users to interact with AI regarding on-screen content. Some features will debut on Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon chipsets, including an AI agent in Settings to assist users with adjustments and the Click to Do feature for scheduling meetings and launching Immersive Reader mode. The Photos app will introduce a relight feature for dynamic lighting control. Paint will gain capabilities for creating custom stickers from text prompts and an AI-powered object select tool. The Snipping Tool will receive enhancements like intelligent screenshot cropping, text extraction, and a color picker. The Narrator on Copilot+ PCs will be upgraded to provide rich descriptions of images.

Winsage

April 27, 2025

I tried the Windows Snipping Tool’s new text extraction feature and here’s how it went

A recent update to the Snipping Tool on Windows 11 has introduced an OCR feature, currently available only to beta channel users. This feature allows users to extract text from images and standard web pages easily, with a straightforward activation process. Users can draw a box around the desired text, and once recognized, a button appears to copy the text to the clipboard. The tool successfully retains formatting when extracting text from web pages. It performs well with clear printed text in images but struggles with handwritten text, producing numerous errors. The Snipping Tool is effective for recognizing simple fonts, enhancing productivity in text extraction.

Winsage

April 18, 2025

Enhancing Text Extraction in Windows 11 with Snipping Tool Update

Microsoft has released an update to the Snipping Tool in the latest preview version of Windows 11 (version 11.2503.27.0) for Insider Program testers. This update introduces a new text extraction icon in the toolbar, allowing users to select and copy text directly from images without capturing a screenshot first. The update simplifies the previous process, enabling users to launch the Snipping Tool and select an area for text extraction more intuitively. Users can copy specific sections or all text, with additional options available to customize the extraction process.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Windows 11 is about to get a nifty shortcut for copying out all the text from an image

Microsoft is testing a new feature in the preview version 11.2503.27.0 of the Snipping Tool for Windows 11 that allows users to extract text directly from images without taking a screenshot first. By pressing Windows + Shift + S, users can access a capture bar that includes a 'text extractor' option. This feature enables users to extract all visible text or select specific portions manually, with the option to remove line breaks. This enhancement follows similar text extraction capabilities introduced in the Photos app last year.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Using ‘one of Windows 11’s few truly useful AI features’ is about to get easier

Windows 11's Snipping Tool is being updated to include a Text Extractor feature, currently being tested by Windows Insiders in the Dev and Canary channels. This feature allows users to select a screen region to scan for text, which can then be copied easily. The "More options" menu provides additional functionalities, such as removing line breaks or enabling automatic text copying. Microsoft aims to enhance user experience by making this feature more accessible and reducing the number of clicks needed to use it.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Windows 11’s Snipping Tool tests instant on-screen text extraction feature

Microsoft is testing an enhanced version of the Snipping Tool for Windows 11, identified as version 11.2503.27.0, which includes a built-in Text Extraction feature using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. This feature allows users to convert images into editable text directly from the capture bar, simplifying the process of copying text from the screen. Users can select any portion of their screen and instantly copy the text to their clipboard, with options to customize the output, such as removing line breaks. This update is currently available to users in the Canary and Dev Channels.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Microsoft brings a new text extraction tool to Windows 11

PowerToys has introduced a Text Extractor feature that allows users to extract text from images. Microsoft has now added a similar feature to the Snipping Tool in Windows 11, which includes a dedicated text extractor button in its capture bar. This update enables users to copy text directly from the screen to the clipboard without taking a preliminary screenshot. Currently, the feature is available only to Windows Insiders on the Canary and Dev Channels with version 11.2503.27.0 of the Snipping Tool. Users can initiate text extraction by selecting an area for scanning and can choose to copy specific text or all text at once. Additional options include removing line breaks and automatically copying text to the clipboard. The feature is anticipated to be rolled out to a wider audience in the future.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Microsoft adds a productivity-boosting feature to the Snipping Tool, and I love it

Microsoft has added a text extractor feature to the Snipping Tool in Windows 11, allowing users to extract text from images. This feature is available in the Dev and Canary channels and enables users to select specific image regions to scan for text. Users can manually select text or use a "Copy all text" button. Additional options include removing line breaks and automatically copying text to the clipboard. To use this feature, users must click the "Text Extractor" button in the Snipping Tool. Microsoft’s PowerToys also offers text extraction capabilities for users not on the Dev or Canary channels.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Windows Snipping Tool Lets You Copy Text and Create QR Codes Without Screenshots

Microsoft has released an update to its Snipping Tool, version 11.2503.27.0, which now allows users to extract text directly from their screens without needing to take a screenshot first. Users can activate the Text Extractor feature using a keyboard shortcut and select the area for text extraction, with an animation highlighting the selection. The update also includes a QR code generator for sharing extracted text, options for automatic text copying, and removal of line breaks. The new Text Extractor improves upon the previous Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature by streamlining the text copying process. However, some users may find it requires an additional step compared to directly using the scan tool.

Winsage

March 25, 2025

Huge Microsoft Photos update adds amazing new web search with OCR-extracted text feature and makes AI options easier to access

Microsoft Photos has received a significant update that enhances its capabilities, including improved Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and the ability to conduct web searches for extracted text directly within the app. The update also integrates AI-driven photo editing tools, allowing users to start an AI editing session from the Windows context menu and introducing a new Copilot button with features such as photo editing tips, image insights, and framing suggestions. This update is being rolled out to Windows Insiders on Windows 11 and to Windows 10 users in the Release Preview Channel.