KIM KOMANDO

How to digitize your handwritten notes or copy text from a photo

Oct 31, 2021, 5:00 AM

(Unsplash Photo)...

(Unsplash Photo)

(Unsplash Photo)

OK, I admit it. I’m a sucker for the latest gadget. I bought a smart notebook with all the upgrades to write my daily to-do lists digitally. Yeah, $600 later, I’ve used it 11 times.

It’s easy to waste money on tech. Tap or click for ways you might be throwing away money and solutions to help you save.

If you’re not getting enough life out of your gadgets, you can fix that too. Tap or click for eight ways you’re ruining your PC.

The truth is, I like the feeling of an actual pen on paper. Maybe you do, too, but that doesn’t mean you can’t digitize all your notes for easier searching and sorting. Here’s how.

Get smart (notes)

Ever wish you could turn your handwritten notes into something you can search or edit on your computer, phone, or tablet? You could take a picture, but that has a few limitations. You won’t be able to search for certain phrases or edit the text. You need something made for the job.

A terrific way to get a handwritten note into your computer is to use the app Evernote. You simply take a picture of the note, and Evernote turns it into a searchable document. You can also organize your notes in folders and with labels.

You can also try Microsoft’s OneNote app. You take a picture of your writing and, like Evernote, can organize things into notebooks and pages.

Pro tip: Keep in mind the apps only work well with legible handwriting. If they aren’t picking up your notes, you’re going to have to slow down a bit.

Speaking of digitizing, what about all your old photos? Tap or click for an easy way to scan without buying a scanner.

Bonus tip: How to copy text from a photo

Apple’s latest major iPhone update, iOS 15, has many handy features to make life easier. Tap or click here for some of my favorites.

Here’s one I especially like: The Live Text feature allows you to scan, search and share text in photos and images.

Note: You’ll need an iPhone XS, XR or later with iOS 14 installed.

This is great to translate text that can’t be copied and pasted or find a photo with specific wording in it. It also works for phone numbers. Simply snap a photo of a package, for instance, and you can call the number in just a couple of quick clicks.

It doesn’t just work with your photos, either. You can use the camera app to scan for text around you.

To scan for information in photos and images, first make sure the function is activated. Here’s Tap the Settings app, go to General and then to Language & Region. Enable Live Text by toggling it on.

Open the Photos app for photos on your camera roll and select the image you want to scan. Touch and hold over the text in the picture, and the grab points will appear around it. You will see several options to copy, select all text, translate, or share.

To identify text with your camera, open the camera app and point it at the text. The indicator icon will be available in the bottom right corner when the app detects text in the viewfinder. Tap the icon.

From there, you can select the text in the same way as described above. To cancel the capture, tap on the screen and the image will disappear.

What digital lifestyle questions do you have? Call Kim’s national radio show and tap or click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to or watch The Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet, television or computer. Or tap or click here for Kim’s free podcasts.

Kim Komando

10 best AI prompts to use for tech success...

Kim Komando

I’m a tech expert: 10 AI prompts you’ll use all the time

Want to make the most out of the high-tech chatbots at your fingertips? Tech expert Kim Komando has 10 useful AI prompts for you to try.

4 days ago

Phone Kim Komando five simple tips to keep your digital info safe...

Kim Komando

The NSA says do these 5 things with your phone right now

Interested in how to keep your phone safe and secure? Kim Komando has five simple tips to protect your digital life.

11 days ago

5-minute technology cleanup tips to try in 2025...

Kim Komando

5-minute cleanup for your phone and computer

Want cleanup tips for files you don’t need, random screenshots, apps you downloaded, blurry photos and more? Kim Komando's got you covered.

18 days ago

Internet sleuth tricks to upgrade your search skills in 2025...

Kim Komando

Easy internet sleuth tricks you’ll wish you knew sooner

Want to be better at looking up information on the internet? Kim Komando has a helpful and useful guide of internet sleuth tricks you can try.

1 month ago

AI Chatbot Kim Komando technology safety artificial intelligence...

Kim Komando

10 things you should never tell an AI chatbot

Talking to an AI chatbot might be a fun creative exercise — or even a way to learn new things — but you must be careful not to share too much data.

1 month ago

You've still got a money request: How the scam works in 2024...

Kim Komando

Warning: This PayPal scam is everywhere right now

Do you keep getting emails that say "you've still got a money request"? Here's how to defend yourself against this common and persistent scam.

2 months ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Asset Preservation Wealth & Tax

How to optimize the most money in 2024 tax returns

As tax season begins, getting your financials in order is important to maximize your tax return.

...

The UPS Store

How The UPS Store is giving back to the community

PHOENIX -- As 2024 nears a close, The UPS Store is looking to give back to the Arizona community with the holiday season approaching.

...

Sanderson Ford

Sanderson Ford’s Operation Santa Claus: Spreading holiday cheer through pickleball

Phoenix, AZ – Sanderson Ford, a staple in the Arizona community, is once again gearing up for its annual Operation Santa Claus charity drive.

How to digitize your handwritten notes or copy text from a photo