How to convert ink to text in OneNote
- Open the page. Go to the page with your handwritten notes.
- Select the ink. On the Draw tab, use Lasso Select to circle the handwriting[1].
- Click Ink to Text. OneNote places the converted text on the page[1].
Microsoft lists this for OneNote for Microsoft 365, OneNote 2024, 2021 and 2016, and says the option is not available in OneNote for the web[1]. For handwriting in another language, install handwriting for that language in Windows and set it as the proofing language on the Review tab before you click Ink to Text[1].
OneNote OCR: Copy Text from Picture
OneNote has a second tool for text inside images. Right-click a picture and click Copy Text from Picture, then paste the text where you want it[2]. For a file printout of several pages, choose Copy Text from this Page of the Printout or Copy Text from All the Pages of the Printout[2].
Microsoft says the command can take a while to appear on a complex image, and some results take up to 24 to 48 hours[2]. On the Mac, its help page says handwritten or script-like text will not work very well with this command[3].
Handwriting in a PDF or photo
Ink to Text works on ink. A scanned notebook, a photographed whiteboard or a handwritten form someone emailed you as a PDF holds a picture of the writing, so it goes through OCR instead. LoreAI is built for that case, and it reads print and cursive handwriting.
- Take the file out of OneNote. Save the picture or the PDF printout to your computer, or use the original scan.
- Upload it to LoreAI. The free tool here reads a photo or page 1 of a PDF. The LoreAI app reads every page.
- Download Word. Paste the text back into OneNote, or keep the Word file with headings, lists and tables in place.
Your first document in the app is free, up to 3 pages and 3 MB. The app also translates the handwriting into one of 105 languages.
Which OneNote tool for which notes?
| What you have | Use | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Pen ink in OneNote for Microsoft 365 | Ink to Text[1] | Typed text on the OneNote page[1] |
| Typed text in a picture or printout | Copy Text from Picture[2] | Text on the clipboard[2] |
| Handwriting in a photo or scanned PDF | LoreAI | An editable Word file, in the original order |
| Handwriting in another language | LoreAI app | A Word file in one of 105 languages |
OneNote on iPad
On an iPad, Apple's Scribble and Apple Notes handle handwriting while you write. The iPad handwriting to text guide covers both, plus GoodNotes and Notability. For any handwritten PDF, see handwritten PDF to text.
Questions people ask
Can OneNote convert handwriting to text?
Does OneNote have OCR?
How do I convert handwriting in a PDF to text?
Upload the PDF to LoreAI. It reads the handwriting on every page in the app and returns an editable Word file.
Can I translate handwritten OneNote notes?
Yes. Upload the picture or PDF to the LoreAI app, choose a language and download the translated Word file.
Sources
- Microsoft Support: Take handwritten notes in OneNote, accessed November 6, 2026
- Microsoft Support: Copy text from pictures and file printouts using OCR in OneNote, accessed November 6, 2026
- Microsoft Support: Copy text from inserted pictures in OneNote for Mac, accessed November 6, 2026
By Matt Mountain ·