Copy text from a screenshot
Screenshot an error, a chat, a slide or a snippet of code, then press Ctrl+V (or ⌘+V) on this page and convert the screenshot to text. No saving a file, no upload, no sign-up.
- Paste with Ctrl+V
- Extract an error message
- Copy code from a screenshot
- Screenshot table → Excel
Paste a screenshot to copy its text
Ctrl+V / ⌘+V — no need to save a file. Built for error messages, chat, code and UI you cannot select.
…or press Ctrl+V / ⌘+V to paste
100% local — files never leave your browser
How to copy text from a screenshot
Screenshot to the clipboard
Win+Shift+S on Windows, ⌘+Ctrl+Shift+4 on a Mac (the extra Ctrl copies instead of saving), or your usual snipping tool.
Paste it here
Click anywhere on this page and press Ctrl+V / ⌘+V. You do not have to save a PNG first. Drag & drop and file picking still work.
Copy what you need
The error code, the chat line, the snippet. Grab a region on the preview if you captured too much desktop.
Built for things you screenshot
Paste first, no file
The usual path is clipboard → paste → copy. Saving a screenshot to disk is optional, not required — which is the part most screenshot to text tools get wrong.
Error messages, verbatim
Extract the exact wording and codes — 0x8007000E, stack traces, toast text — so you can search or paste them without retyping.
Code from a screenshot
Slides, Slack, a video pause. The result is editable so l/1 and O/0 slips are a one-character fix, not a rewrite.
Local OCR, not an upload
Chats, dashboards and account screens should not go to a random online OCR site. Recognition runs in your browser; this page never receives the screenshot or the text that comes out of it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I copy text from a screenshot without saving a file?
Capture to the clipboard (Win+Shift+S, or ⌘+Ctrl+Shift+4 on macOS), click this page, and press Ctrl+V or ⌘+V. The screenshot is picked up automatically.
Is this screenshot to text converter free?
Yes. There is no account, no limit on how many screenshots you convert, and no watermark. Processing happens on your device, so there is nothing to meter.
Can I extract an error message from a screenshot?
Yes — that is one of the most common uses. Paste the screenshot and copy the exact error text to search for it or share it, instead of retyping.
Can I copy code from a screenshot?
Yes. Recognition is usually strong on UI and editor fonts. Similar characters (l/1, O/0) can still swap; the result is editable in place so you can fix them quickly.
I captured the whole desktop. Can I copy just one area?
Yes. On the preview, drag a box around the text — or click a block — and extract only that region. No need to recapture.
Is the screenshot uploaded or stored?
No. Processing is local. We never receive the screenshot or the text that comes out of it.
Related guides
The paste-first workflow, and what to do when a page blocks selection.
Guide
How to Copy Text from a Screenshot (Without Retyping It)
The fastest way to turn any screenshot into copyable text: paste it into a local OCR tool. Step-by-step for Windows, macOS and phones, including region select.
Read the guide →Guide
Can’t Select That Text? Here’s How to Copy It Anyway
Disabled right-click, text baked into images, protected PDFs, video frames — a field guide to copying text from places that refuse to let you.
Read the guide →Guide
7 Ways to Get Better OCR Results from Photos and Scans
OCR accuracy is mostly decided before the software runs. Resolution, contrast, angle, crop and language — here is what actually moves the needle.
Read the guide →