Now you can copy-paste handwritten paper notes using Google Lens

Google Lens app has a new useful feature that allows users to detect text on papers (or photos) and copy-paste it to a computer or another device. You can now copy and paste your handwritten notes from your phone to your PC with the Google Lens app. Lens uses object recognition technology to recognize text, however, it works properly only if your handwriting is neat enough.

How to copy-paste handwritten paper notes using Google Lens?

Copy-paste paper notes using Google Lens
Copy-paste paper notes using Google Lens, Image Courtesy of Google

To use this new feature, you need to update or download the Google Lens app, update the Google Chrome browser, and log in to the same Google account (Gmail account) both on smartphone and PC.

To copy handwritten text to PC using Google Lens:

  • Open Google Lens app
  • Point your camera to the handwritten notes paper
  • When the text is highlighted, click to select and copy it
  • Now, open a new document on Google Docs and paste the copied text
  • That’s it!

If your handwriting is neat enough, you will see a great result otherwise there may be some typos in the copied text. If you’ve images of text/notes in your phone’s Gallery, you can also use Google Lens to copy-paste text from them. This is a convenient feature for engineering students to copy-paste their handwritten notes to a computer in no time.

We’ve tested the app and works pretty cool on neatly written text.

Google is also working on a pronunciation feature for the Google Lens app which will be rolled out in the near future. With the pronunciation tool, you will be able to just point the camera to an image and click on any highlighted text and listen to its pronunciation. In addition to these features, Google Lens also offers a text translation feature (translate text to over 100 languages) and as well a reverse image search feature.

You can also search concepts with Lens, searching for phrases like “heat vs work” or “what is a solar panel” to get in-line Google search results. That’s potentially very convenient if you’re doing school assignment or helping a buddy.

Google Lens’s ultimate vision is to detect anything in front of you in a matter of seconds and updates like these are pushing it in the right direction. Google Lens app is available for download both on Play Store (Android) and App Store (iOS).

Aimal Khan is the founder & CEO of Engineering Passion. He is an engineer and has obtained his bachelor's degree in energy engineering from Kandahar University.