How to copy text with Text Extractor
- Install Microsoft PowerToys, the set of Windows utilities that includes Text Extractor[1].
- Press Win + Shift + T. An overlay appears on the screen[1].
- Click and drag over the text. Hold Shift to move the selection box instead of resizing it[1].
- Let go. The text in the region is recognized and copied to the clipboard, and the overlay closes[1].
Press Esc to leave capture mode at any time[1]. The shortcut and the preferred OCR language can both be changed in the PowerToys settings[1].
How to add an OCR language to Text Extractor
Text Extractor uses the OCR built into Windows, and it starts with the language of your Windows system and keyboard settings[1]. A page in another language needs its OCR language pack first. Microsoft gives PowerShell commands to list the packs and install one, such as the pack named Language.OCR for en-US[1]. Installing a pack can take several minutes[1].
If you see the message No OCR languages are installed, no language is available for recognition yet[1].
Text Extractor or the Snipping Tool?
Microsoft itself recommends the Snipping Tool over Text Extractor for capturing screenshots[1]. The Snipping Tool's Text actions button runs OCR on a snip, then lets you copy selected text or use Copy all text[2]. Text Extractor is the faster route if you copy text from the screen all day and want one shortcut that drops it straight on the clipboard.
Both give you plain text. A table, a form or a numbered list comes back as lines, and the layout is rebuilt by hand in Word. More options are on the OCR for Windows page.
Turn a full scan into text with the free tool on this page
- Choose the file. A scanned page as a JPG, PNG, WEBP or HEIC image, or a one-page PDF up to 5 MB.
- Press Get the text. The whole page is read with OCR, with no language pack to install and no account.
- Copy or download. Copy the text, or download a .txt file or a Word document with the tables in place.
This works from the file, not the screen, so the result does not depend on how large the page is on your monitor.
Screen OCR tools on Windows compared
| Tool | How you start it | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| PowerToys Text Extractor | Win + Shift + T, then drag[1] | The text in the region on the clipboard[1] |
| Snipping Tool | Capture a snip, then Text actions[2] | Selected text or all text[2] |
| OneNote | Right click a picture, Copy Text from Picture[3] | Text to paste into Word or Outlook[3] |
| LoreAI | Upload a PDF or image in the browser | Every page as an editable Word file, translated if you choose |
From a scanned document to Word
Screen tools read what is visible, one region at a time. A scanned PDF of twelve pages is quicker as a file: upload it to the LoreAI app and download one Word document with headings, lists and tables in the original order. It reads handwriting, stamps and seals too, and translates into one of 105 languages in the same step. Your first document is free, up to 3 pages.
For Word's own PDF conversion, see Microsoft Word OCR. For every device, read how to copy text from an image.
Questions people ask
What is the shortcut for PowerToys Text Extractor?
The default is Win + Shift + T, and you can change it in the PowerToys settings[1].
Why does Text Extractor say no OCR languages are installed?
Windows has no OCR language pack available for recognition yet. Microsoft's page lists the PowerShell commands to install one[1].
Can Text Extractor read text in another language?
Yes, once that language's OCR pack is installed in Windows. It recognizes only languages with an installed pack[1].
Can Text Extractor convert a PDF to Word?
It copies the text you drag over on screen[1]. For the whole PDF as an editable Word file, upload it to LoreAI.
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: PowerToys Text Extractor utility for Windows, accessed November 6, 2026
- Microsoft Support: Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots, accessed November 6, 2026
- Microsoft Support: Copy text from pictures and file printouts using OCR in OneNote, accessed November 6, 2026
By Matt Mountain ·