Microsoft has been steadily improving the Windows 11 Photos app with redesigned UI elements, better performance, AI-powered features, and enhanced editing tools. One of the most exciting additions—though still not widely advertised—is OCR (Optical Character Recognition). This hidden feature allows you to extract text directly from images, screenshots, scanned documents, and even photos taken with your phone.
If you’re here reading about enabling OCR in the Photos app, we’re guessing you heard about the feature online, saw it on someone else’s system, or noticed a “Copy Text” option mysteriously appear once or twice. The catch? Microsoft hasn’t rolled this out to all users yet, and the feature remains somewhat hidden behind preview flags and update requirements.
Well, you’re in luck! In this in-depth guide, we’ll walk you through how OCR works in the Photos app, why it may be hidden on your system, and—most importantly—how you can enable and use this incredibly useful capability on Windows 11.
What Is the Hidden OCR Feature in Windows 11 Photos App?
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) enables the Photos app to:
- Detect text inside images
- Highlight selectable text
- Extract, copy, or share recognized text
- Translate or search the extracted text (via Microsoft services)
This allows you to quickly grab text from:
- Screenshots
- Photos of documents
- Images containing quotes
- Posters, signs, menus, receipts
- Whiteboard images
- Handwritten notes (with mixed accuracy)
OCR in Photos is part of Microsoft’s AI-based “Image Context Detection,” but it may not appear unless your app version, system build, and experimental feature flags match what Microsoft is testing.
Why the OCR Feature Might Be Hidden on Your PC
Even if you’re running the latest version of Windows 11, the OCR option might not show up due to:
- Outdated Photos app
- Missing feature flags from Microsoft
- Being on a non-Insider build
- Experimental features not yet rolled out to your region
- Corrupt Photos app installation
- Disabled Microsoft Store automatic updates
Fortunately, you can manually unlock or enable the feature, and in some cases force the Photos app to update to include OCR.
How to Turn On the Hidden OCR Feature in the Windows 11 Photos App
Below, we list the most effective ways to activate or unlock the OCR feature. Follow each method one by one until you see the “Copy Text from Image” option inside the Photos app.
1. Update the Microsoft Photos App to the Latest Version
Microsoft only ships OCR support through the latest Photos app builds.
- Open Microsoft Store.
- Click Library in the lower-left corner.
- Click Get updates.
- Install all pending updates, especially:
- Microsoft Photos
- Microsoft Photos Legacy (if listed)
Minimum Version Required
Look for Photos version:
2023.11110.x or higher
Once updated, restart the Photos app and open any image. If the feature is active, you should see a Text or Copy Text icon in the toolbar.
2. Join the Windows Insider Program (Dev or Canary Channel)
OCR in Photos is often tested in Insider builds first.
- Open Settings → Windows Update → Windows Insider Program.
- Click Get started.
- Link your Microsoft account.
- Choose Dev Channel or Canary Channel.
- Restart your PC and check for updates.
After upgrading your system, update the Photos app again from the Microsoft Store.
This almost guarantees you’ll have OCR available.
3. Enable Experimental Features in Photos (If Available)
Some versions of the Photos app include a secret toggle for experimental features.
- Open Photos app.
- Click the three-dot menu (top-right).
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll to the bottom for Preview / Experimental features.
- Turn ON:
- Text extraction
- Content-based suggestions
- Smart scanning (if available)
Restart the Photos app after enabling them.
4. Use ViveTool to Force Enable OCR Feature Flag (Advanced)
Microsoft often hides features behind internal “feature flags.” You can manually unlock them using ViveTool—a popular tool that unlocks hidden Windows features.
Disclaimer: This is safe if done correctly, but still considered an advanced tweak. Proceed only if comfortable using command-line tools.
- Download ViveTool from the official GitHub page.
- Extract the folder to your Desktop.
- Right-click Start → Windows Terminal (Admin).
- Navigate to the ViveTool folder:
cd Desktop\ViveTool
- Run the feature enable command:
vivetool /enable /id:44508958
- Restart your PC.
After rebooting, relaunch the Photos app. The OCR option should now appear.
5. Repair & Reset the Photos App
If the feature still doesn’t show up, your Photos installation may be corrupted.
- Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
- Search for Photos.
- Click the three dots → Advanced options.
- Click Repair → test the app.
- If still missing, click Reset.
After resetting, update the app again from the Microsoft Store.
How to Use OCR in the Windows 11 Photos App
Once enabled, using OCR is extremely simple.
Steps to Extract Text:
- Open the Photos app.
- Open any image containing text.
- Click the Text icon in the toolbar
(or right-click → “Copy text from image”) - Photos will highlight detected text.
- Choose:
- Copy all text
- Select text manually
- Share text
- Search with Bing
OCR usually takes 1–2 seconds, depending on image quality.
Pro Tip: Use Win + Shift + S to take a screenshot → open in Photos → extract text instantly.
Wrapping Up
And that brings us to the end of our comprehensive guide on how to turn on the hidden OCR feature in the Windows 11 Photos app. Whether you’re extracting text from documents, grabbing content from screenshots, or pulling quotes from images, OCR is one of the most useful additions to the Photos app—and it’s worth unlocking if you don’t already have it.
