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

This guide explains how to pull text out of screenshots using the Snipping Tool in Windows 11.

The Snipping Tool is a built-in tool in Windows. It lets you take pictures of your whole screen, a single window, or just a small area you pick.

Why use Text Actions?

Microsoft added a feature called Text Actions. It lets the Snipping Tool “read” the words inside your screenshot. You can then copy those words and paste them anywhere else. This saves you from having to type them out by hand.

A similar text extractor utility in the Microsoft PowerToys app can also grab text from anywhere on your screen, even from inside videos.

What happens when you use it?

Once you finish these steps, you will have the text from your image saved to your clipboard. You can then paste it into a document, an email, or a message.

How to copy text from screenshots

Follow these steps to use the new feature:

1. Open the Snipping Tool app.
2. Take a screenshot of the image that contains the text you need.

3. Click the Text Actions button in the toolbar. This will highlight all the text found in the image.
4. To grab all the text at once, click the Copy all text button. You can also press CTRL + A followed by CTRL + C on your keyboard.

5. If you only want a specific part, use your mouse to highlight just that text. Right-click the highlighted area and select Copy text, or use the CTRL + C shortcut.

6. When you are finished, click the Text Actions button again to turn off the text selection mode.

That is all there is to it!

Reference: Microsoft blogs

Summary

The Snipping Tool in Windows 11 now includes a Text Actions feature that turns images into editable text. This tool is perfect for transcribing notes, grabbing info from social media, or saving text from tutorials without manual typing. By following the steps above, you can quickly copy information from any screenshot and paste it into other apps.