# A photo to Word converter that keeps tables and columns

A photo to Word converter reads the text in a JPG or PNG with OCR and writes it into an editable .docx file. Google Drive does this for free with images up to 2 MB, but its help page says tables and columns are not likely to be detected[1]. The converter below rebuilds headings, lists and tables in Word, free with a free account.

## How to convert a photo to Word with LoreAI

1. **Take the photo or pick the file.** Use a JPG, PNG, WEBP or a one-page PDF up to 5 MB. Lay the page flat in even light and photograph it straight on.
2. **Press Get the text.** The converter reads the photo with OCR and shows the first lines in a few seconds.
3. **Enter your email and the code.** The 6-digit code we send opens the full result and creates a free account if you have none. No password needed.
4. **Download Word (.docx).** Open the file in Word, Google Docs or LibreOffice and edit it like any other document. A .txt download and a copy button are there too.

The converter reads one page. For a document of several pages, or to translate it in the same step, upload it in the [LoreAI app](https://www.loreai.org/app) and choose OCR Only or OCR + Translate. Your first document is free, up to 3 pages and 3 MB.

## Free JPG to Word converters compared

*Photo and JPG to Word options, checked on November 2, 2026*

| Option | Files | Size | Tables and columns | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Google Drive, Open with Google Docs | PDF, JPEG, PNG and GIF[1] | 2 MB or smaller[1] | Not likely to be detected, and neither are lists or footnotes[1] | Free |
| Microsoft Word, opening a PDF | PDF | Not stated | Word guesses the structure, and works best with files that are mostly text[2] | Included with Word |
| LoreAI, OCR Only | JPG, PNG and PDF | Free: 3 MB. Basic: 10 MB. Pro: 25 MB | Rebuilt as Word tables, with headings and lists | First document free |

Google Drive does keep bold, italics, font size, font type and line breaks[1], so for a plain letter or a page of prose it is a good free choice. The difference shows on forms, invoices, transcripts and timetables, where the table is the content.

## Can I translate the photo in the same step?

Yes. Choose OCR + Translate instead of OCR Only and pick one of 105 target languages. LoreAI detects the source language. You get one Word file in the new language, with the same tables and headings, and the names, dates and numbers as written in the photo.

For the most common case, a document photo into English, see [how to translate an image to English](https://www.loreai.org/translate-image-to-english).

## iPhone photos, HEIC and JPG

LoreAI does not accept HEIC photos. An iPhone or iPad can save photos as HEIF to save space. To take JPEG photos instead, open Settings, tap Camera, then Formats, and choose Most Compatible[3]. The setting applies to new photos[3]. For photos you already took, take a screenshot of each one, which is saved as PNG, and upload the screenshot.

## How do I get every digit right?

Photos can lose digits in long numbers. In LoreAI's tests on October 31, 2026, a skewed phone photo lost the last digit of an 18-digit ID number. A low-resolution photo also lost part of a long record number. The same kinds of numbers on digital PDFs came through intact. The loss happened in LoreAI's text recognition step, before translation, so compare every long number in the Word file with the photo.

- Keep the text large. Google's guidance for its converter is text at least 10 pixels high, the page right side up, and sharp images with even lighting and clear contrasts[1]. The same rules help any OCR.
- Shoot straight down, not at an angle, and keep all four corners of the page in the frame.
- Use the PDF from the sender when you have one, rather than a photo of a printout.
- Compare account numbers, ID numbers and amounts digit by digit with the paper.

## Several photos of one document

One upload is one document. For a three-page contract, combine the photos into one PDF before uploading. You can use the scan function in your phone's notes or files app. The Word file then keeps the pages in order.

Handwriting, faint stamps and blurred photos are read less reliably than clear print. For a handwritten note, expect to correct the Word file by hand.

## Questions people ask

### Is there a free image to Word converter?

Yes. Google Drive converts images up to 2 MB to a Google Doc for free[1]. LoreAI converts your first document free, up to 3 pages, with tables rebuilt.

### Does it keep tables and columns?

LoreAI rebuilds tables as Word tables and keeps headings and lists in the order of the photo. Check merged cells and very dense tables by eye.

### Can I convert a JPG to Word on my phone?

Yes. LoreAI works in the phone's browser, and you can upload a JPG or PNG straight from the camera roll.

### Can it read handwriting?

Only roughly. Clear print converts best. Handwriting comes through with more errors, so check it line by line.

## Sources

1. [Google Drive Help: Convert PDF and photo files to text](https://support.google.com/drive/answer/176692?hl=en), accessed November 2, 2026
2. [Microsoft Support: Opening PDFs in Word](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/word/opening-pdfs-in-word), accessed November 2, 2026
3. [Apple Support: Using HEIF or HEVC media on Apple devices](https://support.apple.com/en-us/116944), accessed November 2, 2026

By Matt Mountain · Updated November 2, 2026