Have you ever watched a video on YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook and spotted some text you wanted to copy, maybe a quote, an important tip, or contact info, but couldn’t because, well, it’s a video?
Good news: You can now easily extract text from any video using a free and powerful tool called the SelectText extension.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to use it and copy any on-screen text, even from paused videos, straight from your browser!
🔍 What is SelectText?
SelectText is a free browser extension (available for Chrome and Edge) that lets you copy text directly from videos on the web. It works like magic. Just pause the video, hover over the text, and drag to select it, just as you would with normal text.
Whether it’s a quote from a YouTube video, a WhatsApp number in an Instagram Reel, or directions from a Facebook tutorial, this tool can grab that info instantly.
✅ Platforms It Works On:
1) YouTube2) Instagram
3) Facebook
4) Twitter
5) LinkedIn
6) Vimeo
7) Udemy
And many other web-based platforms!
🚀 How to Extract Text from Any Video – Step-by-Step
Step 1: Install the SelectText Extension
1) Go to the official site: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/selectext-copy-text-from/gkkdmjjodidppndkbkhhknakbeflbomf?hl=en
2) Click on “Add to Chrome” (or Edge if you're using Microsoft Edge)3) Once installed, pin the extension in your browser for quick access
Step 2: Open a Video in Your Browser
1) Open any video from YouTube, Instagram (web), Facebook, or any other platform.
2) Pause the video and toggle the S word on the top left of that video, because it is your first time using it, so you will need to sign in.
.
Step 3: Select and Copy the Text
1) Hover over the video and simply drag your cursor across the text you want to copy.
2) A selection highlight will appear, just like normal text!
3) It will automatically copy the selected text by dragging.
Step 4: Paste & Use It Anywhere
Now you can paste the copied text into:
1) Notes or Docs
2) Email3) ChatGPT
4) Social media captions
5) Blog posts
🔐 Is SelectText Safe?
Yes! SelectText runs locally in your browser, meaning your video content and data stay private. No text is sent to any server.
💡 Pro Tips
1) Works best with clear and readable fonts in videos.
2) If SelectText doesn’t recognize text, increase video resolution or try another frame.3) You can also screenshot the video and use OCR tools like Google Lens as a backup (but SelectText is way faster!).
🎉 Final Thoughts
Copying text from videos used to be a hassle now it’s a breeze thanks to the SelectText browser extension. It’s perfect for students, researchers, content creators, and literally anyone who watches educational or informative videos online.
So next time you see something valuable on-screen, don’t type it manually, just select it!