How do you convert handwriting to text in OneNote?

FAQ Handwriting to text
Published April 27, 2024

Converting handwritten notes to digital text in OneNote can be extremely useful for making your notes more searchable and organized. Here’s how you can do it step-by-step:

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  1. Open Your Note: Start by opening the OneNote notebook containing your handwritten text.

  2. Select the Handwritten Text: Use the lasso tool by clicking on the 'Draw' tab and then selecting the lasso tool. Drag it around the handwritten notes that you want to convert to text.

  3. Ink to Text: After selecting your handwritten notes, go to the 'Draw' tab again and click 'Ink to Text'. OneNote will now convert your handwriting into typed text.

  4. Review and Edit: Sometimes the OCR might not perfectly recognize your handwriting. Review the converted text and make any necessary edits.

Using OneNote for converting handwriting to text is quite straightforward. However, it's always good to explore dedicated OCR tools if OneNote doesn't meet your expectations or if your notes are in other formats like PDFs or images.

For instance, you can convert handwriting in PDFs or images to text using HandwritingOCR, at HandwritingOCR.com.

Additional Tips:

  • Handwriting Quality: Better handwriting quality leads to better accuracy in text conversion. Make sure your handwriting is clear and legible.

  • Update OneNote: Ensure that your version of OneNote is up-to-date, as improvements in OCR technology are frequently added.

  • Supported Languages: Check if OneNote or any other OCR tool you are using supports the language in which your notes are written.

By using these methods and tools, converting handwritten notes to digital text becomes a much easier task, allowing you to better organize, search, and utilize your information.

Convert handwritten notes to Word, Google Docs, Markdown and Excel. Better accuracy than any note-taking app. Try for free now →