Despite living in a digital world, many of us still rely on pen and paper during meetings, lectures, or brainstorming sessions. The problem arises when you need to search, edit, or share those physical notes. Fortunately, learning how to digitise handwritten notes using Google Keep is incredibly easy, completely free, and takes just a few seconds.
Google Keep features highly advanced Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. This allows the app to scan a photograph of your messy handwriting and instantly convert it into editable, searchable digital text.
How to Scan Handwritten Notes in Google Keep
To use this feature, you will need to have the Google Keep app installed on your Android or iOS smartphone.
- Open the Google Keep app on your mobile device.
- Tap the image icon at the bottom of the screen to create a new note with an image.
- Select Take photo to open your device’s camera.
- Make sure you are in a well-lit environment, hold your phone steady, and take a clear photograph of your handwritten page. Ensure the text is in focus.
- Tap the checkmark to accept the photo. It will now be attached to your new Google Keep note.
How to Extract Text from Your Image
Now that your note is saved as an image, it is time to let Google’s OCR technology work its magic.
- Tap on the photograph you just took inside the Google Keep note to open it in full screen.
- Tap the three vertical dots (More menu) in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select Grab image text from the drop-down menu.
- Wait a few seconds. Google Keep will scan the image, extract all legible words, and paste them directly into the body of your note below the image.
Tips for Better Results
While the character recognition software is impressive, it is not infallible. To ensure your text is transcribed accurately:
- Write clearly: The neater your handwriting, the better the results. Cursive text is often prone to misinterpretation.
- Avoid shadows: When taking the photo, ensure there are no harsh shadows cast across the page, as this can confuse the scanner.
- Proofread immediately: Always read through the extracted text and manually fix any spelling mistakes while you still have the physical paper in front of you.
By knowing how to digitise handwritten notes using Google Keep, you get the best of both worlds: the tactile freedom of writing on paper, combined with the permanent, searchable convenience of digital documents.
