What you need to know
- Windows 11’s new Snipping Tool is one of the best “new” programs the platform has received in recent years.
- Replacing the previous Snipping Tool, the Windows 11 Snipping Tool has a wealth of upgraded features, including screen recording, annotations, shape placements, and much more.
- One of my favorite aspects, its Optical Character Recognition (OCR) screenshot-to-text copy and paste is getting a direct keyboard shortcut in an upcoming Windows 11 build.
As a seasoned tech enthusiast who has been navigating the digital landscape for years, I can confidently say that the new Snipping Tool in Windows 11 is a breath of fresh air. It’s like finding a hidden gem amidst the sometimes-frustrating updates and changes that come with every new OS version.
Windows 11 continues its progression, receiving numerous updates and enhancements across the Windows Insider builds throughout the year. However, not every update receives a warm reception; for instance, the replacement of Outlook for Mail & Calendar falls short in many aspects, while features like Windows Recall have faced setbacks and problems.
Despite lacking some essential features at first, the revamped Snipping Tool has turned into a triumph for the Windows 11 development team. It’s become an almost daily essential tool for me here at Windows Central due to its speed in cropping screenshots for articles and guides. The upgraded version also incorporated video recording, emoji stickers, various shapes such as arrows and rectangles for emphasizing text, among many other enhancements.
Previously, the Snipping Tool didn’t have this amazing capability, but last year it introduced an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) image-to-text feature. This enabled users to directly copy and paste text from a screenshot using character recognition technology. Interestingly, one of the recent Windows Insider Builds also boasts an improvement for the OCR feature. This enhancement was pointed out by Insider @phantomofearth on Twitter (X).
In an upcoming update, pressing the shortcut keys Win + Shift + T will take you directly into OCR extraction mode within the Snipping Tool, bypassing some initial steps to access this feature. At present, you can either press Win + Shift + S to open the Snipping Tool or find it in the Start Menu and then follow these subsequent steps: choose an image, click on the “Text Actions” button from the menu that appears.
We haven’t pinpointed yet the specific build where this new feature was introduced, but you can enroll to test upcoming Windows versions via the Windows Insider Program. Learn more about it [here].
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is a prime instance of practical machine-based recognition technology that has been integrated into numerous platforms in modern times. Although it’s not entirely fresh (it’s actually decades old), its precision wasn’t always top-notch when it came to text translation. However, it has made significant strides in recent years, and when incorporated into existing tools, it offers impressive accuracy and user-friendly functionality.
It would be great if a “Text Recognition” button could be added to the standard Windows Photos app at some point, as I haven’t been able to locate one so far. However, it is already available in the Photo viewer of Phone Link. Please implement OCR (Optical Character Recognition) for all images.
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More features, more fun (sometimes)
As an analyst, I am observing how Microsoft is utilizing its strategic partnerships with AI pioneers like OpenAI and their tools such as ChatGPT to enrich the functionality of numerous Windows applications. While many of these new features are specifically designed for the Copilot+ PC line, it’s worth noting that in theory, they could operate effectively on any device equipped with current processors. For instance, Notepad is receiving a collaborative writing feature boosted by Copilot and ChatGPT, and Microsoft Paint now offers an intriguing co-creation imaging feature, which might be more beneficial for creating memes rather than substantial content. Additionally, the standalone Microsoft Copilot serves as a helpful resource for swiftly exploring various subjects, provided you can navigate its occasional factual discrepancies.
Amongst the fun and shareable content, features like OCR in the Snipping Tool stand out as genuinely useful tools that Microsoft has developed for its users in recent years. If you’ve never used the Snipping Tool before, you can try it by pressing the Windows Key + Shift + S on Windows 11.
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2024-11-10 17:39