PowerToys is getting the ability to copy text from an image

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Published onAugust 17, 2022

published onAugust 17, 2022

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There’s yet another new feature in the works for Microsoft’s PowerToys app on Windows. This time around, it is PowerOCR, which is a new tool that will let you copy text from any image you have open in Windows (via Neowin.)

The mention of the PowerOCR tool was first spotted on a Pull Request for PowerToyson GitHub.There, Windows app developer Joe Finney initially entered the request, detailing how this tool will work. It’s also been tagged as validated and in manual testing.

And yes, if you’veused Text Grab before, then the way PowerOCR works should be familiar! Just highlight a region of your screen, and Windows automatically will copy the text over to your clipboard. This is all powered by the Windows OCR API, which captures the text from the image and pastes it to your keyboard. Check it out in the GIF below.

This PowerOCR tool is still in the early testing stage, and it might be a while until it gets fully integrated into PowerToys. There are still a lot of tests to be done such as right-clicking image and capture cursor to keep within each monitor. But, in the meantime, if you want to enjoy an app that has this feature, check out Text Grab from Joe Finney!

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.

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Radu Tyrsina

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