What is the Best OCR Software for Windows 11 PC 2026?

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is the industry standard for PDF OC software with excellent accuracy.

Copyfish Browser Extension is a handy OCR software for Windows 11 that works directly within your web browser. Designed to be lightweight and easy to use, Copyfish allows you to quickly extract text from images, videos, or any part of your screen by simply selecting the area you want to capture.

This free browser extension has shockingly good multi-column detection for a free tool.

Power:

• Area selection that intelligently follows columns
• Folder workflow: Open all images in browser tabs → process sequentially
• No installation - works directly in browser

How to batch process:

1. Open all images from a folder in browser tabs

2. Use Copyfish on each tab

3. Results auto-save to clipboard or text file

Overall, Copyfish Browser Extension is a convenient, free OCR software for Windows 11 that enhances your productivity by enabling fast and easy text extraction directly from your web browser.

NAPS2, which stands for Not Another PDF Scanner 2, is a best OCR software for Windows 11 that offers a straightforward and user-friendly way to scan, process, and convert documents. It supports a wide range of scanner models and allows you to scan directly from your scanner or import existing image files for OCR processing. One of its key features is the ability to recognize text in scanned images and PDFs, making it easy to extract editable text from your documents.

NAPS2 provides options for adjusting scan settings, such as resolution and color mode, to optimize OCR accuracy. It also supports batch processing, so you can process multiple images or documents at once, which is handy for handling large folders without much hassle. Although it’s primarily known as a best OCR software for Windows 11, its integrated OCR capabilities make it a versatile tool for converting physical documents into searchable and editable digital files.

Multi-column capabilities:

• Uses Tesseract with custom layouts
• Profile system - save column detection settings, apply to batches
• Folder import with automated processing

To enable OCR: Tools → OCR → Enable OCR

Batch: File → Import → From Folder, then apply OCR profile

Paperless-ngx is a free, open-source document management system that can serve as an OCR software for Windows 11, especially if you're looking to organize, digitize, and search through large volumes of scanned documents. While its primary focus is on document organization and retrieval, it includes robust OCR capabilities that automatically extract text from scanned images and PDFs.

Using Paperless-ngx, you can set up an automated workflow where you drop in batches of scanned documents—whether they are clean PDFs or older, faded physical scans—and it will process them to extract text, detect metadata, and categorize files for easy access later. It supports multiple OCR engines, including Tesseract, giving you flexibility in balancing accuracy and processing speed.

One of the advantages of Paperless-ngx as an OCR software for Windows 11 is its ability to handle large-scale batch processing, making it suitable for projects involving thousands of documents. It also preserves layout information and can handle multi-column texts, which is essential for maintaining the integrity of complex documents.

One of the advantages of Paperless-ngx as an OCR software for Windows 11 is its ability to handle large-scale batch processing, making it suitable for projects involving thousands of documents. It also preserves layout information and can handle multi-column texts, which is essential for maintaining the integrity of complex documents.

As a best OCR software for Windows. OCR.space Desktop is a solid choice for handling multi-column text recognition, especially if you want to maintain reading order and automate batch processing. Here's how it aligns with your needs:

Pros:

• Multi-Column Support: OCR.space's OCR engine is capable of recognizing multi-column layouts, minimizing garbled reading order when configured properly.
• Automation: It offers command-line interface (CLI) options, allowing you to script and automate processing of entire folders without manual intervention.
• Batch Processing: You can set up batch scripts to process multiple images or PDFs simultaneously, saving time and effort.
• Free Tier: The free version has limitations, but for moderate use, it may suffice. For extensive batch processing, consider the paid tiers for higher quotas and faster processing.

Considerations:

• Layout Detection: Make sure to enable or select layout detection features and specify multi-column processing modes if available.
• Preprocessing: To improve accuracy, consider preprocessing images (deskewing, noise reduction) before OCR.
• Post-processing: Implement scripts to organize recognized text according to columns, for example, by analyzing bounding boxes or layout metadata provided by OCR.space.

Overall, OCR.space Desktop is best OCR software for Windows that your use case if you are comfortable setting up batch scripts and configuring layout options to handle multi-column documents without garbling the reading order.

OCRFeeder is an even better choice: it is a free, open‑source graphical OCR suite built on multiple engines including Tesseract. It extracts text from images, PDFs, and scanner inputs while preserving the original document structure as much as possible. Notably praised for its outstanding layout retention, it serves as a practical OCR software for Windows 10 that caters to both beginners and advanced users, with flexible configuration options to meet diverse OCR needs.

Here's how it works in your own words: you first install a supported OCR engine like Tesseract, then launch OCRFeeder and import your document. The tool automatically analyzes the layout to identify text blocks, images, and tables, letting you manually adjust these areas if needed. Once the text regions are set, you run the recognition, and OCRFeeder extracts the text while preserving elements like multi-column layouts and table structures. You can then edit the result directly in the app and export it to formats like searchable PDF, ODT, or TXT. This method stands out because it maintains document structure better than basic OCR tools, making it ideal for formatted content.

It’s particularly useful for processing academic papers, reports, or scanned documents where preserving layout matters, as well as for users who want a free, open-source OCR software for Windows 10 that caters to both beginners and advanced users. Since it supports multiple OCR engines and flexible configuration, it’s adaptable to diverse needs—from quick text extraction to precise layout retention. As a reliable OCR software for Windows 10, it requires no paid licenses and integrates seamlessly with the Tesseract ecosystem for accurate results.

I believe it is gImageReader, a free and open-source graphical interface tool built on the Tesseract OCR engine. Widely recognized as one of the most user-friendly OCR software for Windows 10, it enables efficient text extraction from images, PDFs, screenshots, and scanner input through its intuitive interface. Suitable for both novice and advanced users, it maintains high recognition accuracy at all times.

How to Use OCR Software on Windows 10

1. Download and install the programme from the official GitHub page.

2. Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete setup; no complex configuration is required.

3. Upon launching the software, click to open and load an image/PDF, or use the screenshot function to capture screen text.

4. Select the target language for recognition.

5. Manually define text areas using the selection tool.

6. Click the recognise button to initiate text extraction; results will display instantly in the right-hand panel.

7. Edit the extracted text, then export it as TXT, DOCX, or PDF format.

8. For batch processing, click Batch Process to add multiple files for simultaneous handling.

Drawbacks

• Difficulty in processing blurred, skewed, or heavily noisy images; recognition accuracy significantly diminishes with low-quality source files.

• Compatibility issues may arise with certain rare image formats or highly customised PDF documents.

• Text formatting may not be perfectly preserved during extraction.

It is a dependable and user-friendly OCR solution that bridges the gap between robust engines and the average user. Whilst its core processing relies on the engine and exhibits some limitations when handling low-quality source files, its straightforward operation, support for batch processing, and compatibility with multiple formats make it an excellent choice for Windows 10 users seeking convenient, free OCR software.

What comes to mind is Tesseract 5.x, a free, open‑source OCR engine widely regarded as one of the most powerful OCR software for Windows 10. It delivers high recognition accuracy on clear documents, supports more than 100 languages, and works with popular graphical interface tools. These features make its text extraction suitable for both beginners and advanced users.

Step 1: Download the Windows installer for the software from the official Mannheim University repository.

Step 2:Run the installer, select additional language packs as required, and complete the installation.

Step 3: Add the Tesseract installation path to the Windows 10 system PATH environment variable for command-line access.

Step 4: Load image/PDF files for OCR processing using the graphical user interface or command prompt.

Step 5: Adjust image preprocessing parameters to enhance recognition accuracy.

Step 6: Export extracted text to desired formats such as TXT or DOCX.

Step 7: Verify output accuracy and reprocess images with poor layout or quality.

It is a powerful, free OCR solution renowned for strong recognition accuracy and extensive language support. While it requires basic setup and works best with clear, well-formatted documents, it remains a top choice for home users and students looking for dependable OCR software for Windows 10.