In today’s digital age, copying text from a picture has become a common need. With the advancement of technology, we can now capture images of any text and convert it into editable format quickly. But there are times when we come across an image which has important text information, and we want to copy it. Unfortunately, we cannot copy text directly from an image on Android devices. So, to fulfill this need, we will look into different methods in this post to copy text from a picture on an Android device.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
Before we get into the methods, we need to have a few things ready. Firstly, an Android device with an up-to-date software version and a stable internet connection. Secondly, we will require an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) application that can identify the text on the image and convert it into an editable format. There are many OCR apps available on the Google Play Store, and we will be using some of these in our methods.
What requires your attention is…?
To ensure successful text extraction, it is essential to ensure that the image is clear and the text is legible. Blurry or low-resolution images may not be recognized by OCR apps, and the text in the image needs to be in a readable font size. Moreover, the application used for text recognition and extraction should be updated to its latest version for optimal performance.
Method 1: Google Lens
Google Lens is an in-built feature on many Android devices which allows users to scan and extract text from images. Google Lens can identify the text from an image with its advanced AI-based OCR technology, and it also provides additional information about the image, such as the search result, shopping links, etc. Here are the steps to use Google Lens to extract text from an image:
1. Open the Google Photos application on your Android device.
2. Select the photo from which you want to extract the text.
3. Tap on the Google Lens icon at the bottom of the screen.
4. Wait for the application to scan the image and identify the text.
5. Once the text is identified, tap on the text to select it.
6. Copy the selected text by pressing and holding on the text and selecting the ‘Copy’ option.
7. Paste the copied text into any text editor to use it.
Pros:
– Google Lens is an in-built feature on many Android devices, so there is no need to download any additional application.
– It can identify the text from an image with high accuracy.
Cons:
– Google Lens is not available on all Android devices.
– The application may take some time to scan and extract the text.
Method 2: Microsoft Office Lens
Microsoft Office Lens is another popular OCR application available on the Google Play Store. The application can scan and extract text from images and convert it into editable format. Moreover, it also offers features such as crop and straighten, which can help in making the image clear and readable. Here are the steps to use Microsoft Office Lens to extract text from an image:
1. Download and install the Microsoft Office Lens application from the Google Play Store.
2. Open the application and select the ‘Camera’ icon.
3. Capture the image of the text that you want to extract.
4. Use the crop and straighten feature to make the image clear and legible.
5. Tap on the ‘Recognize Text’ option at the bottom of the screen.
6. Wait for the application to scan and recognize the text.
7. Once the text is identified, tap on the text to select it.
8. Copy the selected text by pressing and holding on the text and selecting the ‘Copy’ option.
9. Paste the copied text into any text editor to use it.
Pros:
– Microsoft Office Lens offers additional features such as crop and straighten, which can help in making the image readable.
– The application can recognize text with high accuracy.
Cons:
– The application may require permission to access the device camera and storage.
– Microsoft Office Lens is a Microsoft product, and users need a Microsoft account to use some of its features.
Method 3: Text Scanner [OCR]
Text Scanner [OCR] is another OCR application available on the Google Play Store that can extract text from images. The application can scan and extract text from various sources such as images, documents, PDFs, etc. It also supports different languages and provides translations for the extracted text. Here are the steps to use Text Scanner [OCR] to extract text from an image:
1. Download and install the Text Scanner [OCR] application from the Google Play Store.
2. Open the application and select the ‘Camera’ option.
3. Capture the image of the text that you want to extract.
4. Wait for the application to scan and recognize the text.
5. Once the text is identified, tap on the text to select it.
6. Copy the selected text by pressing and holding on the text and selecting the ‘Copy’ option.
7. Paste the copied text into any text editor to use it.
Pros:
– Text Scanner [OCR] supports different languages and provides translations for the extracted text.
– The application can extract text from various sources such as images, documents, PDFs, etc.
Cons:
– The free version of the application is limited in features.
– The application may require permission to access the device camera and storage.
Why Can’t I Copy Text from a Picture on Android?
There are several reasons why you cannot copy text from a picture on Android, some of which are listed below:
1. The text on the image may not be in a legible format, making it hard for OCR applications to recognize and extract it.
2. The OCR application used for text recognition may not be updated to its latest version, leading to inaccurate text extraction.
3. The image’s quality may be low, making it hard for OCR applications to differentiate text from the background.
Fixes:
1. The text on the image needs to be legible and understandable for OCR applications to recognize it correctly.
2. Ensure that the OCR application used for text recognition is updated to its latest version and supports the language of the text.
3. Use an image editor to improve the image’s quality before using an OCR application to extract text from it.
Implications and Recommendations
The ability to extract text from an image can be helpful in various situations, such as copying text from a book, receipt, or any other printed document. It can save time and effort and also allows the user to store the extracted text in an editable format. However, it is essential to use OCR applications wisely and always ensure that the extracted text is accurate and free of any errors. Moreover, users should also be aware of apps that may access personal information on the device without permission. Hence, it’s advisable to download OCR applications only from trusted sources such as Google Play Store.
FAQs
Q: Are OCR applications 100% accurate in text extraction?
A: No, OCR applications may not be 100% accurate in text extraction, and the accuracy may depend on the quality of the image and the OCR application used.
Q: Is it safe to download OCR applications from unknown sources?
A: It’s not advisable to download OCR applications from unknown sources as they may contain malware or other threats that can harm the device.
Q: Do I need an internet connection to extract text from an image using OCR apps?
A: Some OCR applications may require an internet connection to extract text from the image as they may use cloud-based OCR technology.
Q: Can I extract text from handwritten notes using OCR apps?
A: OCR applications may not be accurate in recognizing handwritten text and may not provide accurate results.
Q: Is there any OCR application for Android that is free and supports multiple languages?
A: Yes, some OCR applications such as Microsoft Office Lens and Text Scanner [OCR] are free and support multiple languages.
Conclusion
In conclusion, extracting text from an image on an Android device is a straightforward process if the right OCR application is used. Users can follow the methods mentioned above, such as using Google Lens, Text Scanner [OCR], or Microsoft Office Lens, to extract text from an image. Always ensure that the image’s quality is good, the text’s font size is legible, and the OCR application is updated to its latest version for accurate text extraction. Moreover, downloading OCR applications from trusted sources such as the Google Play Store is always recommended to prevent any harm to the device.