How to Turn Scribbled Notes into Text on Windows

Many everyday PC applications contain powerful yet underused features, and one that stands out is Object Character Recognition (OCR). Once you learn how to utilize it, you’ll discover how practical it can be.

For instance, OCR is integrated into Google Docs, making it an excellent tool for transforming handwritten notes into editable text on your computer.

I now use it to digitize handwritten notes scrawled on scrap paper, allowing me to easily share them with family and friends. Whether it’s handwritten letters, family recipes, or your weekly shopping list, Google Docs can convert them all into editable text.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to convert a handwritten list of party supplies into text in just three simple steps.

Step-by-step instructions:

• Capture an image of your handwritten document using a smartphone app like Adobe Scan or Office Lens.
• Upload this image to Google Drive from your phone, then open Google Drive on your PC.
• Right-click the uploaded image in Google Drive, select Open With > Google Docs. Google Docs will automatically generate a copy with the image at the top and the extracted text below. You can remove the image if you no longer need it, leaving only the text.

Note: Handwritten text often appears jumbled with formatting issues after OCR conversion. Be prepared to do some manual formatting to tidy it up. Afterward, you can copy and paste the text into applications like Microsoft Word for further editing and fine-tuning.

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