To further process written information from an image, you need the plain text. Extract text from a photo using Google Lens.
From photo to text
Information is easy to store or share by means of a photo. Smart, because that way all information is put together. But if you want to use the information for something, the typed text is needed. Extract computer text and handwritten text (depending on how legible the handwriting is) from an image with Google Lens. For example, you can easily take notes digitally.
Don’t have the Google Lens app yet? First download it from the App Store (iPhone/iPad) or the Play Store (Android phones). Unfortunately, the app is not available for Android tablets.
Extract text from photo (Android smartphone)
Copy text from an image like this:
- Tap the app Google Lens.
- The camera opens. At the bottom are several circles with an icon in them. By default, Google Lens opens with the ‘Search’ feature. In the larger circle is the icon of a magnifying glass.
- To recognize text, it does not matter which of the icons is in the button, but in order not to activate unnecessary functions, we tap the symbol for text:
. This icon will appear in the larger circle.
- Point the camera at the text to be digitized. Make all the text you want to use as large as possible. If it is a long text, consider digitizing it in sections.
- Tap the larger circle (with or without text icon) at the bottom.
- The photo is taken, the image freezes. Tap in the photo where the text is.
- Two blue dots appear. Tap the left blue dot.
- Hold your finger on the screen and move to the beginning of the text or of a paragraph. Remove your finger from the screen.
- Repeat with the other blue ball and move to the end of the text you want to use.
- New options have appeared at the bottom. Tap on Copy text.
- The text from the image is now on the clipboard. Tap or press the Home button and swipe up to return to the overview of all apps.
- Tap the app in which you want to use the text, for example WhatsApp. Do you want to use the text on the computer? Then send it to yourself in an email.
- Please note, especially when reading handwriting, Google Lens sometimes makes mistakes. Read the text and correct any errors before sending or saving.
The app can also read text from an existing photo. Open an image with text via a photo icon in the top right 
Extract text from image (iPhone/iPad)
Google Lens is not available as a separate app for the iPhone and iPad. But the function is in the app Google Photos. Use Google Photos to extract text from an image like this:
- If necessary, take a photo of the text you want to digitize. You can also use an existing photo.
- Tap the app Google Photos
. - Tap an image whose text you want to use. If necessary, swipe up or down to find the image.
- At the bottom it says ‘Copy text from image’. Tap this. Isn’t this there? Then tap the Google Lens icon at the bottom
(third from left). - Tap in the photo where the text is.
- Two blue dots appear around a word or piece of text. Tap the left blue dot.
- Hold your finger on the screen and move to the beginning of the text or of a paragraph. Remove your finger from the screen.
- Repeat with the other blue ball and move to the end of the text you want to use. Text that is selected turns blue.
- Options for what to do with the selected text have appeared at the bottom.
- Tap on Copy text.
- The text from the image is now on the clipboard. Press the Home button or swipe up to return to the app overview.
- Tap the app in which you want to use the text, for example WhatsApp. Do you want to use the text on the computer? Then send it to yourself in an email.
- Please note, especially when reading handwriting, Google Lens sometimes makes mistakes. Read the text and correct any errors before sending or saving.