Screenshot to Text

Drop a screenshot, get the text out. Code, UI strings, error messages, image quotes — all back as copy-paste markdown.

What it does

LensCopy extracts text from screenshots — code snippets, error messages, app UI captures, and quoted images — and returns it as markdown. It handles dark mode and light mode, terminal screenshots, and screenshots of articles or social posts. Output is plain text with structure preserved, ready to paste into a notes app, code editor, or LLM prompt.

Extract text from a screenshot

  1. Capture the screenshot. Use your OS shortcut: Cmd+Shift+4 (macOS), Win+Shift+S (Windows), or Print Screen (Linux). Save the image to disk or copy it.
  2. Open LensCopy and paste or drop. Drag the screenshot file onto the upload area at lenscopy.com, or paste from clipboard.
  3. Wait for OCR. Processing typically takes a few seconds for a single screenshot.
  4. Copy the text. Click Copy to get the markdown text. Paste into your notes app, code editor, chat, or LLM prompt.

FAQ: Screenshot to Text

How do I extract text from a screenshot?

Save the screenshot, upload it to LensCopy, and copy the markdown text. The whole flow takes under 30 seconds and works without signup for a first try.

Can I OCR a code screenshot?

Yes. Code screenshots from terminals, IDEs, or web articles come back as fenced markdown code blocks with indentation preserved, ready to paste into an editor.

Does dark-mode screenshot OCR work?

Yes. Inverted color schemes are handled directly — you do not need to invert the image first.

Last reviewed 2026-05-03. Loading interactive page…