Urdu OCR: extract Urdu text from images
Recognize printed Urdu text in scans and photos. Results depend on print quality and font, and stylized calligraphy may not be recognized well.
Add pages
Photos or scans of documents. Files stay on your device.
How it works
- Add a clear image of the Urdu text.
- Urdu is already selected as the language.
- Extract the text, then review and correct it.
Extract Urdu text from pictures
Use this tool to turn printed Urdu in a photo, screenshot or scan into text you can copy. Urdu is written right to left, and the text box follows that direction, so the extracted text appears aligned correctly.
How to get the best result
- Urdu is already selected as the language, so just add your image.
- Use a straight, high-resolution image with good light.
- Crop away borders, illustrations and text in other scripts.
- Try the Document filter if the page is faint or shadowed.
- For pages with several columns, expect to reorder the text.
Be realistic about accuracy
Urdu is harder for OCR than English. Letters change shape depending on their position, and many fonts, especially Nastaliq as used in newspapers and calligraphy, have connected, sloping strokes. Simple printed fonts work better.
Small marks such as dots and diacritics can be missed. Always proofread the result before you use it, especially names, numbers and quotations.
Pages with Urdu and English
If a page mixes both languages, run it once with Urdu and once with English, then combine the parts you need.
Questions
- Is it free?
- Yes. There is no watermark, no signup and no page limit for normal use.
- Are my documents uploaded?
- No. Scanning, filters and PDF creation run in your browser. Text recognition also runs on your device; only the OCR engine and language data are downloaded.
- Is Urdu OCR fully accurate?
- Not always. Nastaliq fonts are difficult for OCR engines, so always proofread the result.
- Can it read handwritten Urdu?
- No. It is designed for printed text, and handwriting is not reliably recognized.
- Why are some words wrong?
- Complex scripts are difficult for browser-based OCR. Better lighting, a sharper image and a simpler font usually improve the result.