Microsoft has added the ability to scan text using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to the Phone Link app with build number 1.24052.124.0.
The company has recently been focusing on the Phone Link experience in Windows, adding a Managed Devices section a few weeks ago that lets you use your phone as a webcam.
Microsoft then added a new feature that allows you to copy screenshots taken on your phone directly to your desktop.
Additionally, Microsoft has been testing the Scan to Text feature, which lets you extract text from images.
OCR was previously limited to Windows Insiders, but is now generally available in Windows 11 and 10.
To use this feature, all you have to do is update the Phone Link app. Then, when you view photos in the Phone Link app on Windows, you'll find the "Text" (formerly "Scan Text") option. This function can also be activated using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + T.
Clicking this icon will call up the Optical Character Recognition (OCR) function and attempt to find all the text in the image. You can easily copy details from documents, notes or passport photos.
This feature is not available for languages other than English. Microsoft needs to fix this issue in the next update, otherwise many users may be banned.
The Snipping Tool has an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature that can scan text from screenshots, as well as the ability to edit or hide sensitive text. Although Phone Link offers many other useful features.
Android integration with Windows improves with every new feature. The CDEH package enables Phone Link to provide additional connected experiences, such as editing screenshots from a PC.
If your phone is connected to your computer via Phone Link, you'll receive a notification to edit the screenshot once the screenshot is saved on your phone.
You can then edit the captured screenshot using an emoji-enabled capture tool.
Image annotation is very useful as the snipping tool includes different shapes and emojis.