How To Convert Image To Text In Google Docs

Converting images to editable text in Google Docs is a convenient way to work with scanned files or screenshots. You can extract text using built-in features, add-ons, Google Keep, or online tools.

Steps To Convert an Image to Text in Google Docs 

Step 1: Open Google Drive and Click on '+ New'

Open Google Drive in any modern web browser on your desktop or laptop device. Click on the '+ New' button at the left-most side of the panel.

Step 2: Click on 'File upload'

A dropdown menu opens. Click on 'File upload'.

Step 3: Select the Image

A dialog window opens up. Locate the image from your computer folder to upload to Google Drive. Make sure that the image has some letters or numbers in it. Click on the image to upload it from any folder on your computer.

Step 4: Click on 'Open'

Click on the 'Open' button in the dialog box to upload the selected image to Google Drive. Now the selected image is uploaded to your Google Drive.

Step 5: Select 'Open with' and Click on 'Google Docs'

Right-click on the image. A dropdown menu opens up. Click on 'Open with'. Another sub dropdown opens up. Click on 'Google Docs' in it.

Step 6: Preview

Now the image gets opened in a new document in Google Docs. The image and the text that appeared on the image are now present in the document. The text appears in the image is converted to digital text and it is displayed exactly below the image in the document in Google Docs.

Step 7: Select the Converted Text

The converted digital text appears in different text colors such as yellow, orange, or other colors. Users can edit and format that converted text. Select and highlight the converted text.

Step 8: Click on the 'text color' icon

Click on the 'text color' icon in the toolbar of Google Docs.

Step 9: Click on any color

A dropdown of colors is opened. Click on any color to change the text color to make it readable. Here we are clicking on Black color.

Step 10: Click on the '+' icon

Click on the '+' icon in the toolbar of Google Docs to increase the font size of the converted text. Click on it as many times as you want.

Now the text color and font size of the converted text have been changed.

Step 11: Preview the converted text from the image

The text on the image is converted to digital text and is present in a document in Google Docs now. This helps users to save time typing the contents of the image.

Convert an Image to Text in Google Docs Using Extension

In this method, we need to install an extension in Google Docs to help convert the image to text within Google Docs. Let us see the steps in detail below:

Step 1: Open Google Docs on your computer and open the document

Open Google Docs in any modern web browser on your desktop or laptop device. Open the document in Google Docs.

Step 2: Click on 'Extensions' -> 'Add ons' -> Get add-ons'

In the menu bar of Google Docs, click on 'Extensions'. A dropdown opens. Click on 'Add ons'. Another sub dropdown opens up. Click on 'Get add-ons'.

Step 3: Type 'Img to Docs' and Press the 'Enter' key

A dialog window opens up with Google Workspace Marketplace with the search bar.

In the search bar, type 'Img to docs' and press the 'Enter' key to search.

Step 4: Click on the icon 'Img to Docs - Image OCR' and Click on the 'Install' button

The search results are displayed. Click on the icon 'Img to Docs - Image OCR'.

The add-on is opened in a new dialog window. Click on the 'Install' button.

Step 5: Choose your Google account from the list of accounts already signed in or choose to sign in to Google

A popup window opens up asking the user to sign in with a Google account. Choose the Google account from the list of accounts displayed or sign in to your google account.

Step 6: Click on 'Allow'

Another page opens in the popup window. Click on the 'Allow' button.

Step 7: Click 'Done' in the popup

Now the add-on has been installed. Click on 'Done'.

Step 8: Click on 'X' at the top right-most corner of the dialog window

Click on 'X' at the top right-most corner of the dialog window to close it, and go back to the Google Docs document.

Step 9: Click on 'Extensions' -> 'Img to Docs - Image OCR' -> Start

Now open the add-on from the document in Google Docs. Click on the 'Extensions' tab in the menu bar. A dropdown opens up. Click on 'Img to Docs - Image OCR' -> Start.

Step 10: Click on the cloud button 'Drag files or click to upload'

The add-on is opened and displayed on the right side of the document. Click on the cloud icon in the panel 'Drag files or click to upload'.

Step 11: Double-click on the image you want to extract text from your device

Choose the image from your computer in the window and double-click on the image.

Step 12: Click on the 'Insert' button after the image is processed

The image gets processed in the add-on, and the text on the image is displayed in the text box below. Click on the 'Insert' button after the image is processed.

Step 13: Text to Image Conversion Successful

The text that appears on the image is now converted to text and it is added to the document in Google Docs.

Convert an Image to Text in Google Docs Using Google Keep

Step 1: Open Google Keep on your computer

Visit Google Keep in any modern web browser on your desktop or laptop device.

Step 2: Click on the Image Icon

Click on the image icon which is next to the brush icon.

Step 3: Locate the Folder and Click on the Image

A window opens up allowing you to choose an image from your computer. Move to the folder you want and choose the image by clicking on the image.

Step 4: Click on the 'Open' button

Click on the 'Open' button in the window.

Step 5: Click on the three vertical dots icon which is below the image

Now the image gets inserted into Google Keep. Click on the three vertical dots icon which is directly below that image.

Step 6: Click on 'Grab image text' in the menu

A menu opens. Click on 'Grab image text' in the menu.

An alert is displayed at the bottom left corner of the web page where the image text is grabbed.

Step 7: Click on the Three Vertical Dots Icon

Again click on the three vertical dots icon below that image.

Step 8: Click on 'Copy to Google Docs'

Click on 'Copy to Google Docs' in the menu.

Convert an Image to Text in Google Docs Using Free Image to Text Online Tools

There are many free websites online which also help in converting text on images to digital text.

Step 1: Visit www.imagetotext.io on your computer

Visit https://www.imagetotext.io/ in the web browser of your desktop or laptop device.

Step 2: Click on 'Browse'

Click on the 'Browse' button or drag an image to the webpage.

Step 3: Locate the folder to choose the image and click on the image

A window opens up allowing you to choose an image from your computer. Move to the folder you want and choose the image by clicking on the image.

Step 4: Click on the 'Open' button

Click on the 'Open' button in the window.

Step 5: Click on the 'Submit and Extract' button

The image gets uploaded to the webpage. After the image is uploaded, click on the 'Submit and Extract' button.

Step 6: Click on the copy icon next to the image

Click on the copy icon which is next to the image to copy the converted text on that image.

Step 7: Open Google Docs in your browser on your computer

Open Google Docs, and open a document to paste the converted text.

Step 8: Place the cursor

Place the cursor anywhere in the document where you want to place the text.

Step 9: The converted text from the image is pasted to Google Docs successfully

Click on the 'Ctrl' + 'V' button on the keyboard to paste the text. The converted text is pasted to a Google Docs document.