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NormCap

With NormCap, extract text from a selected screen part and paste the recognized words directly into a document or message.

Developer dynobo

Version 0.6.0 · Open source · Windows · macOS · Linux

Looking for an alternative to NormCap?Compare Microsoft PowerToys, NAPS2.Compare alternatives

NormCap is a screen tool for text recognition. You select a rectangle on your screen, after which the app tries to convert the visible letters to copyable text. This helps with an image, an inaccessible PDF view or a program where you cannot select the text directly.

The recognition uses Tesseract. You can choose the language details that match the text; for Dutch content you can use the Dutch language model. The quality depends on font size, contrast, resolution and format. Enlarge small text if possible before selecting an area and read the result, especially with numbers and email addresses.

The output goes to the clipboard. NormCap is therefore a quick intermediate step between a screen image and your own document. It's not a replacement for a full scan archive or a screen recorder. From version 0.6.0 you can also optionally have QR codes and barcodes recognized.

Which software suits you?

Compare NormCap with alternatives

Looking for an alternative? See what the other apps can do and check whether they support your device.

Differences between NormCap and Microsoft PowerToys, NAPS2
SoftwareWhat can it do?Platform and licence
NormCapYou are viewing this app With NormCap, extract text from a selected screen part and paste the recognized words directly into a document or message. Windows, macOS, LinuxOpen source
Microsoft PowerToysView this alternative You use Windows and want text extraction as part of a larger help package. WindowsMIT
NAPS2View this alternative You're looking for OCR for multiple-page scanned documents. Windows, macOS, LinuxGPL-2.0-only

Choose an alternative to explore its features, system requirements and download options.

Who is it for?

You regularly copy text from images, documents or windows without selectable text. NormCap is useful for short fragments; for hundreds of scanned pages a document-oriented OCR program fits better.

Getting started

Choose the installation package for your system. Windows also has a ZIP release without an installer. Preferably use Flatpak on Linux and add the language models you need in NormCap.

Privacy

The text recognition is done locally with Tesseract. Additional language models may require a download. The result comes on the clipboard and can therefore be reached for a clipboard manager or synchronization function that you use yourself.

Good to know

Recognition can make errors No comprehensive document or video editor Screen rights and desktop environment affect operation

Please note

Always check recognized amounts, account numbers and other important text. On macOS permission for screenshots is required. Under Linux, the behavior may vary by desktop environment.

Advantages

  • Quickly extract text from a screen pane Local OCR with additional language models Official portable Windows release

Things to consider

  • Recognition can make mistakes No comprehensive document or video editor Screen permissions and desktop environment affect operation

Download NormCap

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Official download page

Provider’s website · github.com

Download NormCap (opens in a new tab)

Version history

0.6.0

You can optionally recognize QR codes and barcodes from a screen part.

  • You can optionally recognize QR codes and barcodes from a screen part.
  • A Windows boot problem with special characters in the user folder has been solved.
  • Linux gets additional methods for screen shots. Ubuntu 20.04 and GNOME older than 41 are no longer supported; on macOS, support for version 12 and older expires.
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Our verdict

NormCap is a targeted solution for a recognizable problem: text that you can see but cannot copy. The short step from select to paste makes it useful alongside almost any other program. Do not expect perfect reconstruction of tables or error-free recognition of lowercase letters. For an occasional paragraph or code it is a useful addition; for large amounts of scans you should choose a page management and document export program. A quick check of the clipboard result remains part of your M.O.

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