Windows 11 and Android users will finally get a feature iPhone users have had for ages – the easy copying of text from phone photos over to a PC

Microsoft is reportedly working on an update for its Phone Link app, aimed at simplifying the exchange of text between your phone and PC. In essence, this update will enable users to select text within photos synced from their Android phone.

Phone Link, also known as Link to Windows on your phone, is an application on your PC that syncs calls, messages, notifications, and images from your Android device to your computer. It functions similarly to how iPhone users can sync their devices with their MacBook, allowing them to respond to messages and access photos without needing their phone.

The new feature will utilize optical character recognition (OCR) to identify text within images and highlight it, enabling users to copy the text to a word processor, email, or text box. This is particularly convenient for those who dislike typing out important details manually and seek a simpler process. However, this feature is currently only accessible through Microsoft’s preview channel.

According to reports, Windows Central tested the feature and found a straightforward layout within Phone Link that highlights all available text in the image, with the option to copy it to the Windows clipboard. Interestingly, Microsoft initially tested a similar feature within the Snipping Tool, where transferred photos opened in the app instead of Phone Link.

While Apple users may initially overlook such an update, it still offers significant benefits. However, it’s worth noting that the OCR may not be 100% accurate, requiring users to double-check the pasted text before sending it. For basic information or written notes, the feature should suffice, but for longer or critical blocks of text, using cross-device copy and paste may be more reliable, especially if the text isn’t confined to an image file.

As of now, the feature remains exclusive to the Windows Insider Preview Build, Microsoft’s platform for testing new features and changes. While not all features tested in the Preview Build make it to wide release, there’s confidence that this Phone Link update will eventually be rolled out.