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Urdu Image to Text

Get editable Urdu text from a photo, scan or screenshot. The tool opens with Urdu already selected, reads the image in your browser and gives the text back right to left, ready to copy into Word, Google Docs or a chat.

Add an image with Urdu text

Supports JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, WebP, TIFF, HEIC, HEIF, HEICS

Auto detects the writing system and reads it. For better results, pick the language (up to 3 if the text mixes languages).

Drop a photo, scan or screenshot in Urdu here

or

Max file size: 10MB

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What makes Urdu hard for OCR

Urdu is written right to left in an extended Arabic alphabet, with letters of its own such as ٹ ڈ ڑ ں ے. Most letters join to the next one, so a word is a chain of connected shapes rather than separate characters, and the OCR has to split that chain correctly before it can read it.

The bigger issue is the style of the print. Urdu has two common looks:

  • Naskh style. Letters sit on one flat baseline, like printed Arabic. Many websites, apps, phone keyboards and newer textbooks use it. This is what the engine reads best, and clean Naskh print usually needs only small fixes.
  • Nastaliq style. The traditional Urdu look, used by most newspapers, books and InPage documents. Each word slopes down from right to left and letters stack on top of each other. The Tesseract Urdu model reads Nastaliq much less reliably: expect missing dots, merged words and lines that need real correction.

So be realistic: a screenshot of Naskh text from a website converts well, while a photo of a Nastaliq newspaper column gives a rough draft at best. The result box is set to show right to left text, and the .docx download marks Urdu lines as right to left, so copied text keeps its order.

How to extract Urdu text from an image

Three steps, no account. Urdu is already selected in the language box.

Last updated:

  1. 1

    1. Add the image

    Drop a JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, WebP, TIFF, HEIC, HEIF, HEICS file up to 10 MB, paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V or load it from a link. Crop away anything that is not text.

  2. 2

    2. Extract the text

    Click Extract text. The image is straightened and cleaned up, then read with the Urdu model on your device. The first run downloads the model once.

  3. 3

    3. Check and copy

    Fix misread letters in the box, then copy the text or download it as .txt or .docx.

Extract Urdu text

Tips for better Urdu results

Before you extract

  • Keep Urdu selected rather than Auto: Auto recognises the Arabic script but can read Urdu as Arabic or Persian
  • For old or yellowed print, tick Black and white under the language box and extract again
  • Photograph one column at a time, straight on, without shadows across the page
  • Use the original photo, not a copy saved from WhatsApp, which is often recompressed

Mixed text

  • Urdu with English words? Click Add a language and pick English, so both are read in one run
  • You can combine up to 3 languages, for example Urdu, English and Arabic for a religious text
  • Text that is mostly English with a few Urdu words reads better with English first and Urdu added
  • Several pages? Multi Image OCR reads up to 20 images in one batch

What people use it for

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Our image to text converter is designed to streamline the process of extracting text from images. However, we understand you might have a few questions. To make the most of this tool, we've compiled some frequently asked questions along with helpful explanations to guide you.

Can it read Nastaliq Urdu from newspapers and InPage files?

It can try, but results are much weaker than for Naskh style text. The Urdu model was not built around Nastaliq's sloping, stacked letters, so expect missing dots and merged words. A large, sharp, straight photo and the Black and white option help a little. For a text you need exactly, retyping difficult lines is often faster.

Why does the text come out in the wrong order when I paste it?

Usually it does not: the text is stored in the right order, and it is the app you paste into that shows it left to right. Set the paragraph direction to right to left there (in Word, the right to left paragraph button). The .docx download already marks Urdu lines as right to left.

Can it read handwritten Urdu?

Only very neat, clear handwriting has a chance, and even then most words need correcting. The model is trained on printed text. See handwritten to text for what helps with handwriting in general.

Is my document uploaded anywhere?

No. The Urdu model is downloaded to your browser and the image is read on your device, so ID cards, forms and private chats stay with you.

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