How to Extract Text From Images Using OCR (Free Methods)

What Is OCR?

OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is a technology that reads text from images and converts it into editable digital text. It's extremely useful for scanned PDFs, photos of documents, whiteboard snapshots, receipts, and more.

Method 1 – Online AI Image-to-Text Tool

An online tool is the easiest way to run OCR without installing software.

1. Open an Image to Text (OCR) tool.
2. Upload your image, screenshot, or scanned page.
3. Select the language of the text if necessary.
4. Click Extract to run OCR.
5. Copy or download the recognized text.

AI-based OCR can handle noisy backgrounds, rotated images, and even mixed languages better than traditional tools.

Method 2 – Use OCR on Mobile (Google Lens, iOS Live Text)

On Android with Google Lens

• Open the Google Lens app or tap the Lens icon in Google Photos.
• Point the camera at text or open an existing image.
• Select Text and then tap Copy Text.

On iPhone with Live Text

• Open the Camera or Photos app.
• When yellow brackets appear around text, tap the Live Text icon.
• Select, copy, and paste the recognized text anywhere.

Method 3 – Extract Text From Scanned PDFs

If your text is inside a PDF scan rather than a standalone image, you can still use OCR.

1. Upload the PDF to a tool that supports OCR, or first convert each page to an image using PDF to JPG.
2. Run each image through an Image to Text tool.
3. Combine the extracted text in a Word or Google Docs document.

Tips for Better OCR Accuracy

• Use clear, well-lit photos with minimal shadows.
• Avoid extreme angles and keep the camera centered on the page.
• Crop out unnecessary borders or backgrounds.
• Choose the correct language before running OCR.

What Can You Do With Extracted Text?

• Edit and format the content in Word, Google Docs, or Excel.
• Translate it using any translation tool.
• Store important information in a searchable archive.
• Analyze receipts, invoices, or forms automatically.