In the past we have already tried to explain how to extract text from images and screens using the optical character recognition or OCR. This is a feature that, over time, has landed on more and more services and applications to allow you to write documents by recovering text strings from photographs and screenshots in just a few steps.
There are multiple ways to capture the screen on Windows, but so far the most used – the Snipping Tool or Snipping Tool – never obtained recognition for the text. Microsoft has decided to resolve this important lack just now, introducing the OCR support on Windows 11.
OCR support is arriving in the Windows 11 Snipping Tool, how does it work?
As taken up by colleagues at Bleeping Computerthose who are enrolled in the Insider program and have access to the Windows 11 Canary and Dev channels will be able to update Snipping Tool to version 11.2308.33.0with which it will be possible to extrapolate the text from a screenshot with just a few steps.
The key feature is called “Text Actions” and is found in the various functions bar of the Snipping Tool. By clicking it to open it, the system will automatically display all the text that can be selected for copying. Then simply proceed with the shortcuts Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V to copy and paste the document of interest.
Another feature of the Snipping Tool available for Windows Insider users consists of editing any screenshot taken on Android: simply connect your smartphone via Phone Link and quick automatic synchronization will allow you to view and edit screenshots taken on mobile.
It’s unclear when these features will arrive in Snipping Tool for all Windows 11 users, but given the current availability for Insiders, the wait could be as short as a few weeks, or at most a few months.
