How to Use Snipping Tool’s Text Actions in Windows 11

This article explains how to extract text from screenshots using the Snipping Tool in Windows 11.

The Snipping Tool is a built-in screenshot tool in Windows that allows you to capture screenshots of any part of your screen, including full-screen captures, individual windows, or user-defined capture areas.

Starting with version 11.2308.33.0, Microsoft added a Text Actions feature that allows users to use the Snipping Tool app to detect text in captured screenshots, making it easy to copy text into the clipboard.

A similar text extractor utility in the Microsoft PowerToys app allows users to copy text from anywhere on their screen, including inside images or videos.

This feature might be useful for some users. One common use case is when you come across a piece of text in an image or video that you want to copy and paste somewhere else. Instead of typing the text out manually, you can use the Text Actions feature in the Snipping Tool app to extract and copy the text to your clipboard easily.

This is particularly useful for tasks such as transcribing text from images, capturing text from online tutorials or video reviews, or extracting text from memes or social media posts.

Copy text in capture screenshots using the Snipping Tool

As mentioned above, Microsoft is introducing a Text Actions feature to the Snipping Tool. It detects text in your captured screenshots, making it easy to copy text from any image to share with others or paste into another app.

Here’s how to use it in the Snipping Tool.

First, open the Snipping Tool app. Then, take a screenshot of the image you want to extract its text.

With the captured image, click the Text Actions button on the toolbar to show all selectable text on the captured screenshot image.

To copy all text, click the “Copy all text” button on the toolbar or press the CTRL + A keyboard shortcut, then the CTRL + C shortcut to select and copy all text into the clipboard

To copy selected text, use the mouse to select and highlight the text you want to copy. Then, right-click the selected text and select Copy text  the CTRL+ C keyboard shortcuts.

When you’re done, click the Text Actions button on the toolbar again to stop showing the Text Actions screen.

That should do it!

Reference:

Microsoft blogs

Conclusion:

• The Snipping Tool in Windows 11 offers a convenient way to capture screenshots and extract text using the newly added Text Actions feature.
• Users can easily copy text from captured screenshots, including images and videos, for various purposes such as transcribing, sharing, or pasting into other applications.
• This feature eliminates manual retyping and is particularly helpful for tasks like transcribing text from images or extracting information from online tutorials and social media posts.
• Users can leverage the Text Actions feature to efficiently extract and copy text from their captured screenshots using the Snipping Tool in Windows 11 by following the simple steps.