Who needs a clutter of third-party apps for Optical Character Recognition (OCR) when Windows 11 just gave us one of the cleanest, most seamless solutions right out of the box? Recent updates to Microsoft's Photos app now allow users to extract text effortlessly from images. Yep, move over PowerToys and Snipping Tool – there's a new, built-in player in town.
With the Photos app upgrade, Microsoft has turned this into a “default-on” feature. It’s as though your computer just got a new pair of 20/20 glasses, helping you see text in images as editable information instead of static content.
Snipping Tool, meanwhile, still has a role to play, given its ability to grab text from screenshots in real time. The question for Microsoft now is whether they’ll give us a fully integrated option in Photos to refine what text we extract. Fingers crossed for future updates!
Recording meeting minutes from written charts or saving text out of screenshots is no longer an Everest of effort. So what are you waiting for? Fire up the Photos app and dabble away with text extraction like a pro. Who knows? That dusty OCR software you shelled out for might just find its permanent home in your recycling bin.
Source: Beebom Forget OCR Tools: Windows 11’s Photos App Now Lets You Copy Text from Images
A New Era in Productivity: Windows 11’s Hidden Champion
In its latest revelation, Microsoft rolled out a feature in the Photos app that makes grabbing text from images as straightforward as slicing butter. OCR (for the uninitiated, that's Optical Character Recognition) has suddenly gone from a niche tool that required software like Adobe Acrobat or specialized apps to something you can access while sipping your morning coffee inside a default app. Let's break it down and see how it all works.How It Works: No Magic Wand Needed
Ready to try it out? Here’s the deal. You’ll need to ensure your Windows 11 system is packing the latest updates. Specifically:- Windows OS Version: Update to Windows 11’s 24H2 build (at least Build 26100.2454).
- Photos App Version: Check that your app is updated to 2024.11100.17007.0 or higher, easily done via the Microsoft Store.
- Open Your Image: Launch the Photos app, and load an image containing text.
- Copy Text: The app seamlessly identifies text content within the image. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see an option to “Copy all text.” Tap it and – voilà! – it’s now pasted on your clipboard, ready to use in apps like Word, Excel, or even an email.
Why It Matters: Unpacking the Everyday Impact
One App to Rule Them All
Let’s face reality: juggling multiple tools for basic tasks like OCR can clutter your workflow. While PowerToys’ Text Extractor has been a lovely helper and the Snipping Tool wasn’t too bad either, neither of these are as elegant or streamlined as this fresh upgrade. There's no extra setup, fewer clicks, and the process is built into something most of us already use – Photos.With the Photos app upgrade, Microsoft has turned this into a “default-on” feature. It’s as though your computer just got a new pair of 20/20 glasses, helping you see text in images as editable information instead of static content.
Why OCR on the Photos App Feels Like a Game-Changer
Let’s zoom out for a second and recognize the broader implications:- Mainstreaming OCR: You don’t need a heavy-duty suite like ABBYY FineReader or subscription-dependent software to extract text anymore. Deep OCR functionality is now democratized for everyone running Windows 11.
- Advantages for Accessibility: Microsoft has scored big with this upgrade for users who rely on assistive technologies. Extracting text from images is an invaluable tool for learners, professionals, or anyone visually impaired who might use screen readers.
- Enhanced Productivity: No more copy-pasting errors while transcribing text! Whether it's grabbing details from a scanned business document or saving web content from a screenshot, the process has just gotten friction-free.
You’ll Want to Leave PowerToys Behind (But Should You?)
Now hold up before you uninstall your trusty PowerToys companion. While the Photos app’s new OCR solution is polished, there’s one detail missing in Microsoft’s update: OCR for selective text regions. PowerToys still wins here, as users can specifically select only the portion of an image they want text from.Snipping Tool, meanwhile, still has a role to play, given its ability to grab text from screenshots in real time. The question for Microsoft now is whether they’ll give us a fully integrated option in Photos to refine what text we extract. Fingers crossed for future updates!
How Secure Is It?
OCR tools often raise questions about privacy and data security. Since this new functionality is tucked neatly within the Photos app, it's reassuring for users wary of sending images to cloud-based OCR utilities. Everything stays local, meaning your sensitive data like business invoices, medical records, or private notes won’t be floating around cyberspace. Microsoft deserves a pat on the back for continuing their efforts in strengthening edge-computing capabilities.Let’s Wrap It Up: Better Together, Step by Step!
For anyone tempted to try this feature out today, here’s a checklist to maximize its use:- Check Your Updates: Stop procrastinating and ensure both your Windows build AND Photos app are in sync with the required versions.
- Experiment: Test the feature on different types of images – be it handwritten notes, PDFs converted into images, or even signs from your recent trip abroad.
- Share the Love: Once you've mastered it, share it with colleagues! Productivity hacks like these turn everyday struggles into seamless actions.
Recording meeting minutes from written charts or saving text out of screenshots is no longer an Everest of effort. So what are you waiting for? Fire up the Photos app and dabble away with text extraction like a pro. Who knows? That dusty OCR software you shelled out for might just find its permanent home in your recycling bin.
Source: Beebom Forget OCR Tools: Windows 11’s Photos App Now Lets You Copy Text from Images
