How to Enable PowerToys Text Extractor in Windows 11
screen-on-indefinitely-with-powertoys-in-windows-11/" class="sal-link" rel="noopener" target="_blank" data-sal-id="13723">powertoys-in-windows-11/" class="sal-link" rel="noopener" target="_blank" data-sal-id="30454">Microsoft PowerToys is a free collection of tools for Windows. It helps you change how your computer works to make tasks easier. One of these tools is called PowerToys Text Extractor. This utility uses optical character recognition (OCR) to read text from any part of your screen.
Why use this?
You can grab text from anywhere on your screen. This works even if the text is inside a photo, a PDF, or a video. It saves you from having to type out long sentences by hand. It is a powerful Windows screen capture tool for productivity.
What happens when done?
You will be able to copy text from your screen just by dragging your mouse over it. The text is saved to your clipboard so you can paste it anywhere. It turns your screen into a selectable document.
How to Turn Text Extractor On or Off
First, install the PowerToys on Windows. Once you have the app open, click Text Extractor in the menu on the left side of the window.
On the right side of the screen, find the Enable Text Extractor box. Click the switch to turn it On. To turn it off later, just click the switch back to Off.
How to Use Text Extractor
To use the tool, press Windows Key + SHIFT + T on your keyboard. Your screen will dim slightly. Click and hold your mouse button to draw a box around the text you want to copy. Once you let go, the text is copied to your clipboard. Press Esc if you want to cancel.
How to Install OCR Language Packs
Text Extractor needs language packs to read text correctly. If you need to read text in a language other than English, you must install the specific language pack in Windows. Note: This step requires admin privileges.
1. Open Settings and go to Time & language > Language & region.
2. Click Add a language and select your preferred language.
3. Ensure the Language pack option is checked and click Install.
You can check which languages your computer supports by using PowerShell. Note: This step requires admin privileges.
[Windows.Media.Ocr.OcrEngine, Windows.Foundation, ContentType = WindowsRuntime]
Troubleshooting and Advanced Usage
If the tool is not working, ensure PowerToys is running in the background. Check your OCR configuration in the PowerToys settings menu. If you prefer a different shortcut, you can change it in the Text Extractor settings under Activation shortcut.
Summary
The PowerToys Text Extractor is a vital utility for anyone needing to copy text from images, videos, or locked documents. By enabling it in the PowerToys settings and ensuring your language packs are installed, you can quickly capture information. Remember to use the default shortcut Windows Key + SHIFT + T to start capturing. For more details, visit Microsoft PowerToys.
Why is Text Extractor not working on my screen?
If Text Extractor fails, ensure the PowerToys app is running in your system tray. Check that the shortcut is not being blocked by another app. You may also need to restart the PowerToys process via Task Manager or verify that your Windows system language matches the text you are trying to capture.
Does PowerToys Text Extractor support non-English languages?
Yes, it supports many languages. It relies on the OCR language packs installed on your Windows system. If you need to extract text in a specific language, ensure that the corresponding language pack is fully downloaded and installed through your Windows Language & region settings menu.
Can I use Text Extractor on videos?
Yes, you can use it on videos. Simply pause the video at the frame containing the text you need. Activate the tool with the keyboard shortcut, draw a box around the text, and it will be copied to your clipboard just like text from a static image.
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