How to use OneNote to convert handwriting to text?

FAQ Handwriting to text
Published June 9, 2024

OneNote, a popular note-taking application by Microsoft, supports the conversion of handwritten text to digital text. This feature can be particularly useful for organizing your notes, searching through them, or sharing readable versions. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use OneNote to convert handwriting to text:

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

Steps to Convert Handwriting to Text in OneNote

  1. Open OneNote: Launch the OneNote application on your device. Ensure that your notes containing handwriting are already imported or created within OneNote.
  2. Select the Handwritten Notes: Go to the page containing your handwritten notes. Use the Lasso tool, located under the 'Draw' tab, to circle around the handwriting that you wish to convert.
  3. Convert to Text: After selecting the handwritten text, go to the 'Draw' tab and click the ‘Ink to Text’ option. OneNote will automatically process the handwriting and convert it into digital text.
  4. Review and Edit: Once the text conversion is complete, review the text for any errors or misinterpretations that may have occurred. You can then edit the text as necessary.

Tips for Better Accuracy

  • Clear Handwriting: Ensure that your handwriting is as clear as possible. OneNote's OCR (Optical Character Recognition) can struggle with ambiguous or messy handwriting.
  • Consistent Formatting: Try to keep your handwritten text aligned and in consistent formatting for better accuracy in recognition.
  • Use Updated Versions: Always ensure you are using the latest version of OneNote to take advantage of improvements in OCR technology.

For users looking to convert handwriting in PDFs or images to text, consider using HandwritingOCR, accessible at https://www.handwritingocr.com. HandwritingOCR provides specialized tools for converting various forms of handwriting into digital text efficiently and accurately.

Additional Tools

While OneNote provides a convenient way to convert handwriting to text, there are additional tools and software that might better fit your needs, depending on the complexity and volume of your handwritten content. Here are a couple of alternatives:

  • HandwritingOCR: A dedicated online tool specifically designed for converting handwriting in PDFs and images to text. Visit https://www.handwritingocr.com for more information.
  • Adobe Acrobat: For PDF documents, Adobe Acrobat provides OCR capabilities that can convert handwritten notes within PDFs to searchable text.
  • Google Keep: Another note-taking application that offers a basic handwriting-to-text conversion feature, particularly useful for quick notes and on-the-go use.

By following these steps and tips, you can seamlessly convert your handwritten notes to text in OneNote, making your content more usable and easier to manage.

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