How to use the Screenshot to Text
- Take a screenshot and press Ctrl+V on this page (or drop the file).
- Wait a second or two while the text is read.
- Copy the text or download it as .txt.
Take the screenshot
- Windows: Win + Shift + S, then Ctrl+V here.
- Mac: Cmd + Ctrl + Shift + 4 copies a selection to the clipboard.
- Phone: take the screenshot, then open this page and drop or choose it.
Private by design
Screenshots often contain messages, emails or account details. Recognition runs in your browser, so the image never leaves your device.
Also searched as: copy text from screenshot, extract text from screenshot, screenshot ocr, image to text from screenshot.
Tools that pair well with the Screenshot to Text
- Image to Text (OCR) — Drop a screenshot, a photo of a document or a scanned page and get the text out — editable, copyable and searchable.
- JPG to Text — Convert a JPG photo into editable text — documents, receipts, product labels, signs and whiteboards.
- PDF to Text — Pull the text out of any PDF — as clean plain text with real paragraphs, or as Markdown with headings and bullet lists for ChatGPT, notes or docs.
- Word Counter — Paste or type your text to count words and characters live — plus reading and speaking time, keyword density and length checks for SEO titles, meta descriptions and social posts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I paste the screenshot directly?
Yes. Press Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac) anywhere on the page.
Does it work with dark mode screenshots?
Yes. Light text on dark backgrounds is detected and read too.
Is my screenshot uploaded?
No. The text is recognized in your browser.
Can I install Screenshot to Text as a web app and use it offline?
Yes. Screenshot to Text is an installable web app (PWA) — installed from your browser, not downloaded from an app store. Click Install app at the top of this page in Chrome or Edge (Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS) or on Android, use Share → Add to Home Screen on iPhone and iPad, or File → Add to Dock in Safari 17+ on a Mac. It then opens in its own window with its own icon, and because it runs entirely in your browser it keeps working offline. Firefox on desktop can’t install web apps. How installing works.