Convert images to text: With these 3 tools it works

If a document is only available as a PDF or image, you need a program with "OCR" (optical character recognition) to convert images into text. In this article we show you 3 tools that work best.

Convert images to text with Evernote and OneNote

If you want to make your everyday life as paper-free as possible, digital notebooks like OneNote or Evernote help.

• OneNote is completely free and examines your notes with OCR as soon as you upload them. The program recognizes the text not only in PDF and image format, but also based on your handwritten notes. So if you are looking for a term that appears as text in an image, for example, OneNote will show you this file.
• With OneNote you can of course also convert textual content from PDF and image files into pure text, copy it and paste it into Microsoft Word, for example. To do this, right-click on an image and select the "Copy text from image" option. You can then paste the text somewhere else.
• The direct competitor Evernote works similarly and searches the free version of your images for the desired text. Only in the premium version for up to € 59.99 a year does the tool also search your PDF and Office files. However, there is no way to extract the text and paste it into another file.

Free online offer: OnlineOCR

On the OnlineOCR website you can upload your PDF or image files and convert them to either Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel or a simple text file. But be careful: When uploading your documents to external servers, data protection is no longer guaranteed.

1. Click on "Select file ..." and upload your PDF or image file with the text content. You can also simply drag the corresponding file onto the button. Then wait until the file has been uploaded completely.
2. In the second step, select the language in the selection box. For example, select "German" if your text is in German.
3. If you would like to download the text afterwards, select the appropriate file format. You can choose between Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and a simple text document.
4. Now click on "Convert". A box with the recognized text now appears below, which you can now simply copy. Alternatively, you can download the file. This keeps the original formatting and you can edit the text as you like without changing the overall appearance.

Convert images into text on the go: OCR Apps

Sometimes you want to search or copy the text on a book page. You don't need a detour via a stationary scanner, just your smartphone.

• For easy use of OCR, you can simply use the OneNote app. Office Lens is best suited for editing the text in another Office program. If you have Office 365, you should definitely try this app. The app is available for your Windows, Android and iOS devices.
• "Text Fairy" is free of charge for Android. This allows you to quickly scan documents or books and export the text as a PDF. Unlike Office Lens, this app cannot turn hand-written notes into text.
• A good alternative for both systems is Google Keep. Upload the picture as a note and select it. The image appears in a separate window with the icon with three dots in the top right corner. There you can select the "Capture image text" option. When using a mobile app, it can take a few minutes for the image to be ready for text entry.

Note systems have many useful options that are not immediately apparent at first glance. In our next practical tip, you will therefore find tips for getting started with OneNote.