Google Lens is one of those Android features that feels undeniably useful. It can identify objects, translate signs in real time, surface shopping links, and recognize landmarks by pointing your camera at them.
I’m not shopping for products straight from photos, identifying plants, or scanning monuments for fun facts, so most of Google Lens’ features didn’t feel essential to my everyday life.
However, I had completely overlooked the most practical thing Lens can do: extract text from the real world.
Now I use it almost every day, and it has replaced a surprising amount of manual typing.
I used to retype everything
I used to manually type things like long coupon codes from packaging, tracking numbers from courier slips, and account numbers from printed bills. I’d even retype short paragraphs from books to save a quote.
The process was slow and surprisingly error-prone. I can’t count how many times I mistyped a single capital letter in a tracking ID and wondered why the page wouldn’t load.
A few weeks ago, I ordered something online and wanted to track it quickly.
The delivery slip had a long code, so I opened my camera to zoom in and double-check the number, and noticed the Lens suggestion pop up at the bottom of the screen.
I tapped Copy, pasted it onto the courier website, and it worked on the first try.
That was the moment it clicked: My phone could extract text almost instantly, without me typing a single thing. When I recognized this, I began to notice opportunities to apply it everywhere.
Google Lens uses optical character recognition (OCR) to view letters and numbers in an image and convert them into editable text.
When you point your camera at a receipt, a book page, or a label, Lens analyzes the image in real time. It detects blocks of text, separates them from the background, and identifies individual characters on a page.
Within a second or two, those characters become selectable, just like text in a document or a website.
That’s why you can drag your finger across a printed paragraph and highlight it. When highlighted, Lens allows you to copy the text, listen to it, translate it, or search it on Google.
It works not just through the standalone Lens app, but also inside the Google app, the camera app on many Android phones, and even in Google Photos.
Here’s how to use it:
- Open the Lens app.
- Point it at text.
- Tap select text.
- Highlight and copy what you need.
If you’re using the Camera app, you can access the Lens app by tapping the Lens icon at the bottom.
The underrated trick: Using Lens on screenshots
The trick I had completely overlooked for years is that you can use Lens on screenshots.
You can open the image in Photos, tap the three-dot menu icon, select Google Lens, and pull the text from your screen.
I’ve used it to copy text from Instagram posts, search for error messages, extract a link from a story screenshot, grab text from a tweet image, and pull promo codes from a screenshot.
Using Lens on screenshots turned it from an occasional novelty into a daily tool.
It’s perfect for long codes and serial numbers
If there’s one type of text that proves how useful Google Lens really is, it’s long alphanumeric codes.
Instead of squinting at the label and typing carefully, double-checking every O vs. 0 and I vs. 1, you can point your camera at it. Within seconds, you can select and copy the entire string.
I use this trick for lengthy tracking IDs, activation keys, and serial numbers. While they are readable, the printing style makes human error almost unavoidable.
Now, when I encounter a block of random characters, I no longer consider typing it. Instead, I reach for the camera.
It works surprisingly well with books and handwritten notes
If I’m reading a physical book and come across a paragraph I want to save, I no longer reach for a pen or open a note-taking app to retype it.
I open Lens, point it at the page, and drag to highlight only the lines I need. Then, I tap Copy and paste the text directly into my note-taking app.
When I want to save a quote, I can grab it in seconds without disrupting my reading flow for too long.
I also use it to look up unfamiliar words or references. Instead of manually typing a term into a search bar, I can highlight it in Lens and tap Search.
While Lens isn’t perfect with handwriting, it is surprisingly capable. If the writing is reasonably clear, it can extract reminders scribbled on paper, meeting notes, and ideas from whiteboards.
You can translate text in real time
Text extraction isn’t the only trick here. Google Lens can also translate what you’re looking at in real time.
Open the Lens app and switch to the Translate tab, and the translated version appears directly over the original text.
You don’t have to copy anything into another app. Just hold your phone steady for a second and let Lens process it.
It’s especially useful for menus, packaging, or printed instructions. If the live overlay looks cluttered, you can snap a photo and let Lens translate it more cleanly afterward.
Tips to get more accurate results with Google Lens
Google Lens is fast and surprisingly accurate, but a few small tweaks can make text extraction feel almost flawless.
Improve the lighting
Good lighting makes a big difference. Natural light works best, but even indoor lighting is fine as long as there are no heavy shadows across the text.
If part of the page is dark, Lens may misread characters.
Keep the text straight
Try to hold your phone parallel to the page or label. Angled shots can distort letters, especially near the edges.
While scanning a book, flatten the page to prevent curved lines near the spine.
Use screenshots and photos strategically
If the text disappears quickly, or you cannot copy it inside an app, click a picture or take a screenshot. Open it in Google Photos and tap the Lens icon.
It often produces cleaner, more controlled results than live scanning.
How to scan documents on your Android phone or tablet
Your phone is more than capable, and we’ve got the best app for the job
I can’t believe I ignored this Lens feature for so long
After I began using Lens to copy tracking numbers, serial codes, book quotes, and text from screenshots, it became incredibly practical.
The app addressed everyday annoyances I hadn’t questioned before.
When I can see the text, I usually try Lens first. It’s typically faster and helps me avoid mistakes while typing long strings of characters.
