How to Convert a Scanned Word Document Into Editable Text

By Tricia Goss

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The Microsoft Office Document Imaging tool found in prior versions of Office is not included with Office 2010, but you can still access the text from a scanned file and use it to create a new Word document, which you can edit as needed. The key is to use OneNote, which is the notetaking application included in all versions of Office 2010.

Step 1

Start OneNote by clicking "Start," typing "onenote" into the search box and selecting Microsoft OneNote from the Programs list. Click the "Insert" tab and choose "Picture."

Step 2

Browse to find the scanned document file on your computer. Click the file to select it and click the "Open" button. The scan opens on your current OneNote page.

Step 3

Right-click the image in OneNote and select "Copy Text from Picture."

Step 4

Start Word and open a new, blank document. Click the "Paste" drop-down arrow in the Clipboard group of the Home tab and choose the paste option you want to use, or right-click the page and click on the format you wish to use under Paste Options.

Step 5

Edit the text as desired and save the document before closing Word.

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