How to copy text from a screenshot on Android

To copy text from a screenshot on Android, open the image with a tool that can recognise text, such as Google Lens, select the words you want and tap Copy. Some phones also let you select text straight from the recent apps screen or with Circle to Search. Whichever method you use to copy text from image files on Android, check numbers and codes before you paste them anywhere important.

Why you cannot just long-press the words

A screenshot looks like a page of text, but it is a picture. The words are coloured pixels, so the normal long-press to select text does nothing. To copy them, something first has to read the image with OCR, which stands for optical character recognition. Once the text is recognised, you can select it like any other text.

Method 1: Google Lens

Google Lens is available on most Android phones, either in its own app, inside the Google app or from a button in Google Photos.

1. Open the screenshot in Google Photos or in the Google app's Lens view.
2. Tap the Lens button.
3. Choose the text option if Lens does not pick it automatically.
4. Drag the handles to select the words you want, or tap Select all.
5. Tap Copy, then paste the text where you need it.

Lens can also translate the text, search for it online or, for some kinds of text, offer actions such as calling a phone number.

Method 2: Your gallery's own text tool

Some phone makers build text recognition into their gallery app. When the gallery detects words in an image, it may show a small text icon on the screen. Tap it, select the words and copy them.

Not every phone has this, and the icon looks different from brand to brand. If you are not sure, open a screenshot full of text and look for a new button near the bottom or top of the screen.

Method 3: The recent apps screen

On some phones, the recent apps screen, also called the overview, can read text in the app previews. This means you may not even need a screenshot.

1. Open the app that shows the text.
2. Open the recent apps screen.
3. Press and hold on the text in the preview, or look for a Select button.
4. Adjust the selection and tap Copy.

Method 4: Circle to Search

On phones that support Circle to Search, you can copy text from anything on screen, including an open screenshot.

1. Open the screenshot.
2. Touch and hold the home button or the navigation handle at the bottom of the screen.
3. Draw a circle around the text, or tap it.
4. Select the words and tap Copy.

Tips to copy text from an image on Android cleanly

OCR is good at screenshots, but small mistakes slip through. A few habits help.

• Check codes and numbers carefully. The letter O and the number 0 can look alike, and so can a lower-case l and the number 1. Compare the copied text with the image before you use an order number or a reference.
• Zoom in on small text. If the screenshot is of a tiny part of the screen, crop or zoom so the text is larger before you try.
• Copy in short parts. For a long screenshot, select one section at a time so the line order does not get mixed up.
• Watch for missing line breaks. Copied text from columns or tables can run together. Tidy it up after pasting.
• Mind what is in the image. Some tools send the image to a server to process it. If the screenshot contains private details, check how the tool handles images first.

Copying text from many screenshots

These methods work one image at a time. If you need text from a screenshot you took weeks ago, the hard part is often finding it, not copying from it. A tool that lets you search the text inside your screenshots takes care of that first step.

If you want to understand why some text copies cleanly and some does not, see what OCR is and how your phone reads text in pictures. And before you paste text from a screenshot into a message, it is worth reading what to check before you share a screenshot.

How Screenshot Brain helps

Screenshot Brain reads the text in your screenshots on your phone, so you can type a word you remember and open the right screenshot straight away. It can also find card numbers, bank numbers, phone numbers and emails and cover them before you share the image. Once you have the screenshot open, use your phone's copy tool to grab the words you need.

Frequently asked questions

Can I copy text from a photo, not just a screenshot?

Yes. The same tools work on photos of signs, documents and receipts. Photos are harder to read than screenshots, so check the result more carefully.

Why does the copied text have mistakes?

OCR guesses each character from its shape, and some shapes are very similar. Small text, unusual fonts and busy backgrounds make mistakes more likely.

Can I copy text in other languages?

Usually, if the tool supports that language and script. Many tools can also translate the text for you after recognising it.

Do I need the internet to copy text from an image?

It depends on the tool. Some recognise text on the phone, while others need a connection for some features.