How to Scan Text from an Image
By ScanText Team · 5 min read · 2026-09-05
Scanning text from an image means using OCR to read the words visible in a photo or screenshot and turn them into editable text. This is useful when the original file is not available as text, such as a printed page, a screenshot, or a photo of a document.
What you can scan
You can scan text from many kinds of images: printed documents, screenshots, receipts, signs, labels, whiteboard photos, and more. The key requirement is that the text is visible and readable in the image.
How to scan text from an image
- Open the image-to-text converter in your browser.
- Upload a JPG, PNG, or WEBP image that contains the text you want to scan.
- Click Extract Text and wait for OCR to process the image.
- Review the scanned text in the result box.
- Copy the text or download it as a TXT file.
Tips for accurate scanning
- Use a sharp, well-lit image with strong contrast.
- Keep the text straight and fill the frame without tilting the camera.
- Crop away unnecessary borders or backgrounds.
- Avoid glare, shadows, and motion blur.
- Save JPGs at high quality; use PNGs for screenshots.
Privacy
Because the OCR runs in your browser, the image is not uploaded to a server. No account is required and the extracted text stays in your session.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I scan text from a screenshot? Yes—upload the screenshot and OCR reads it.
- Does this work on mobile? Yes, the tool works in modern phone and tablet browsers.
- Is my image stored? No, processing is local to your browser.
- What formats are supported? JPG, JPEG, PNG, and WEBP up to 12 MB.