If you ever need to extract text from an image then you may want to look for an OCR software or some online tools to convert the image to text. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to extract text from an image without switching apps or uploading files to online OCR tools, Microsoft PowerToys has a powerful solution for you — and it’s more advanced than ever. If you have Microsoft PowerToys installed, then you can do it in a jiffy! The Advanced Paste feature in Microsoft PowerToys now includes the ability to extract text directly from images using OCR (Optical Character Recognition). That means you can copy any image to your clipboard and instantly grab the text inside — no need for third-party OCR tools!
Here, I will show you How to Extract Text from an Image Using Microsoft PowerToys Advanced Paste.
Table of Contents
First, What is Microsoft PowerToys?
Microsoft PowerToys is a collection of utilities designed to improve the productivity and efficiency of power users operating on the Windows 11 platform.
The core purpose of PowerToys is to provide users with advanced tools that can significantly customize their experience, automating mundane tasks and allowing for greater control over their workflows.
What is Advanced Paste?
Advanced Paste is part of Microsoft’s PowerToys utility suite. It enhances the traditional copy-paste experience by letting you choose various options such as:
- Paste as plain text (stripping formatting)
- Paste as JSON or Markdown
- Convert text with AI (e.g., to code, summaries)
- Paste image as text (OCR) etc.
How to Install Microsoft PowerToys on Windows 11
Installing Microsoft PowerToys on Windows 11 is a straightforward process that can significantly enhance your productivity. You can follow the steps below to install Microsoft PowerToys on Windows 11.
Open Microsoft Store app on your Windows 11 PC → Search for “Microsoft PowerToys’ from Microsoft → The icon image is shown above →Click on it → Click on install button.
After installation, you can start Microsoft PowerToys from the Start Menu or from the System Tray. Look for the PowerToys icon, which resembles a stylized window.
How to Extract Text from an Image Using Microsoft PowerToys Advanced Paste
From Microsoft PowerToys version 0.81 and above, the Advanced Paste feature now includes the ability to extract text directly from images using OCR (Optical Character Recognition). That means you can copy any image to your clipboard and instantly grab the text inside — no need for third-party OCR tools!
To extract text from an image using Microsoft PowerToys Advanced Paste, follow the steps below.
1. Copy the image from which you want to extract text
You can use:
- A screenshot (
Win + Shift + S) - Right-click → Copy image (from web or files)
- Snipping Tool or any screen grab utility
2. Open the application where you want to paste the extracted text from an image
3. Invoke Advanced Paste
To invoke the Advanced Paste feature, press the shortcut: Win + Shift + V. This opens the Advanced Paste menu.
4. Choose “Paste image as text”
When you invoke Advanced Paste by pressing Win + Shift + V, you’ll see an option that looks like: 🖼️ Image to text. Click on it or press the assigned number key to proceed. The text from the image is extracted and pasted in the text editor or other application which you have opened.
After extracting the text, you can use AI Paste features to:
- Convert text to code (e.g., Python, JSON, SQL)
- Summarize long paragraphs
- Translate or reformat content
To use AI features within Advanced Paste, you need to get an API key from OpenAI. Sign in and create the key. Open PowerToys > Click on Advanced Paste module > Enable ‘Paste with AI, and paste the OpenAI key in the space provided.
Note: You need to have available paid credits in your OpenAl account to use this feature. If you do not have credits you will see an ‘API key quota exceeded‘ error.
Now you can run custom AI prompts directly from your clipboard.
Advanced Paste vs. Text Extractor
| Feature | Shortcut | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Text Extractor | Win + Shift + T | Select area on screen to extract text |
| Advanced Paste (Image OCR) | Win + Shift + V → Paste image as text | Extract from clipboard image |
Both are useful — but Advanced Paste is faster if you already have the image copied.
Microsoft PowerToys is becoming a must-have productivity tool for developers, writers, and everyday users. The ability to extract text from images and process it intelligently through AI workflows — all with just a few keystrokes — is a game-changer.
Whether you’re grabbing text from a screenshot, copying code from an image, or automating content formatting, PowerToys Advanced Paste puts powerful tools right at your fingertips.
Let me know in the comments whether you have used PowerToys Advanced Paste.
Leave a Comment (FB)