> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.vntranslator.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.vntranslator.com/user-guide/ocr.md).

# OCR

## How to Translate Games with OCR

The OCR feature extracts and translates text directly from your screen in real time using Optical Character Recognition (OCR). It's ideal for visual novels and games that don't support clipboard or text extraction. It can translate dialogue from virtually any game or application.

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAhya7IPYZ0>" %}

### How OCR Works

OCR works by capturing a selected area of your screen, recognizing the text using an OCR engine, and then translating it in real time. You can display the translation results in two ways: using **Extra Window** or **Hyper Overlay**.

***

### Output Methods

Before you start, it's important to understand the two available output methods so you can choose the one that best fits your setup.

#### Extra Window

<figure><img src="/files/8CEdMRee7h0s8Nq3ZjV3" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The recognized text and translation are displayed in a **separate floating window**.

* A dedicated window shows both the original recognized text and the translation
* The window can be repositioned anywhere on your screen
* Best suited for **multi-monitor setups** or when you prefer a separate panel

#### Hyper Overlay

<figure><img src="/files/cwns79PKcEvIDWOLULvw" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The translation is displayed **directly over the original text** on your game screen.

* Translation appears on top of the recognized text, right on the game screen
* Provides a clean, immersive reading experience
* No additional floating windows to manage
* Best suited for **single-screen setups** and **fullscreen games**

***

### Getting Started

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Install an OCR Engine

Before you can use OCR, you need to install at least one supported OCR engine.

{% hint style="info" %}
Recommended for most users:

* **Fast OCR** - A lightweight and accurate offline OCR engine without extra setup.
* **Google Cloud Vision** - Best accuracy for complex backgrounds and colored text. Requires an internet connection and API key.
* **ScreenAI OCR** - A modern offline engine that handles moderate background noise and multi-colored.
* **Nanonets OCR Small** *(via LM Studio)* - A high-performance AI-based engine for offline use. Requires at least 8 GB of VRAM.
  {% endhint %}

For a full list of supported engines and installation instructions, see [OCR Engines](/user-guide/ocr/ocr-engines.md).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Configure and Start OCR

<figure><img src="/files/vxK0pcptH69Hcfz5bODc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

1. Select **OCR** from the module list
2. Select an **OCR Engine**
3. Select your preferred **Output Method**:
   * Choose **Hyper Overlay** for an immersive, in-place translation experience
   * Choose **Extra Window** if you prefer a separate translation panel
4. Click the **Start** button

{% hint style="info" %}
If you're using **Windows OCR** or **Tesseract OCR**, you'll also need to select the appropriate **Language** for that engine.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Position the Capture Area

<figure><img src="/files/8cxYWoimeUZoahc8nvZi" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

After starting OCR, a transparent **Capture Area** window will appear on your screen.

* Drag and resize the Capture Area to cover the **dialogue text box** in your game
* Make sure it covers only the text area - avoid capturing UI buttons, character sprites, or background elements

For more details, see [Interface Overview](https://docs.vntranslator.com/user-guide/ocr/interface-overview).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Start Capturing

Once the Capture Area is positioned, click the **Capture** button in the Side Toolbar (or press **Space**) to trigger a single capture and confirm the text is recognized and translated correctly.

Once you've confirmed it works, enable **Auto Capture** (or press **Ctrl + Shift + A**) to capture and translate continuously while you play, without needing to trigger it manually for every line.

For a full breakdown of Capture, Smart Capture, and Auto Capture options, see [Interface Overview](/user-guide/ocr/interface-overview.md).\
If screen capture fails or shows an error, refer to [Troubleshooting](/help/troubleshooting/ocr.md).
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

***

### Tips for Better Results

* **Position the capture area** over the text dialogue box in your game
* **Choose a modern engine** like Fast OCR or ScreenAI OCR for strong accuracy with minimal setup
* **Use Pre-processing** only if you're using an older, traditional-style OCR engine that needs help with contrast or background noise
* **Use Post-processing** (RegExp) to correct common OCR errors or remove unwanted characters
* **Try different OCR engines** to find the best match for your specific game or visual novel

***

### FAQ: Translating Games with OCR

<details>

<summary><strong>What is OCR translation, and when should I use it instead of other methods?</strong></summary>

VNTranslator offers several ways to translate a game depending on what it supports, including AutoTrans, Clipboard, XUAT, and TextractorCLI. OCR is the option that doesn't depend on the game supporting any of these, since it reads text directly from the screen. This makes it useful for games or applications where the other methods aren't available.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>What's the difference between Extra Window and Hyper Overlay?</strong></summary>

Extra Window displays the recognized text and translation in a separate floating panel, which works well for multi-monitor setups. Hyper Overlay displays the translation directly on top of the original text on your game screen, which suits single-screen and fullscreen setups.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Which OCR engine should I use?</strong></summary>

It depends on your setup: Fast OCR and ScreenAI OCR are modern offline engines that work well for most games, Google Cloud Vision offers strong accuracy for complex text, and Nanonets OCR Small works fully offline if you have enough VRAM. See [OCR Engines](/user-guide/ocr/ocr-engines.md) for a full comparison of all supported engines.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Why isn't OCR detecting any text on my screen?</strong></summary>

Check that the Capture Area is positioned directly over the dialogue text box, that it doesn't include UI buttons, sprites, or background elements, and that **Capture** or **Auto Capture** has actually been triggered. If you're using an older, traditional-style engine, try enabling Pre-processing and adjusting the Threshold value - see [Pre-processing](/user-guide/ocr/pre-processing.md) for details.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>How do I fix incorrect or garbled OCR text?</strong></summary>

Use Post-processing (RegExp) to filter out recurring recognition errors or unwanted characters before translation. See [Post-processing](/user-guide/ocr/post-processing.md) and [Understanding OCR & Improving Accuracy](/user-guide/ocr/understanding-ocr-and-improving-accuracy.md) for detailed tips.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Does OCR work with any game or application?</strong></summary>

OCR captures whatever is visible on your screen, so it can work with most games and applications regardless of engine. Accuracy still depends on the OCR engine used and factors like font style, background complexity, and text size.

</details>

***

### OCR Documentation Index

<table><thead><tr><th width="259.20001220703125" valign="top">Page</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><a href="https://docs.vntranslator.com/user-guide/ocr/interface-overview">Interface Overview</a></td><td>Learn about the OCR interface components: Capture Area, Side Toolbar, and Status Bar</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><a href="https://docs.vntranslator.com/user-guide/ocr/ocr-engines">OCR Engines</a></td><td>Compare all supported OCR engines and find the best one for your game</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><a href="/pages/K5fjV6gumH3VRN7LymXl">OCR Settings</a></td><td>Configure Auto Capture interval, Clipboard copy, Recording Mode, and other OCR options</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><a href="https://docs.vntranslator.com/user-guide/ocr/ocr-master">OCR Master</a></td><td>Advanced OCR controls available in the Pro version</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><a href="https://docs.vntranslator.com/user-guide/ocr/pre-processing">Pre-processing</a></td><td>Improve image quality before OCR processing</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><a href="https://docs.vntranslator.com/user-guide/ocr/post-processing">Post-processing</a></td><td>Refine OCR output using Regular Expressions</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><a href="https://docs.vntranslator.com/user-guide/ocr/understanding-ocr-and-improving-accuracy">Understanding OCR &#x26; Improving Accuracy</a></td><td>In-depth guide on how OCR works and how to improve recognition accuracy</td></tr></tbody></table>

**Having trouble?** See the [Troubleshooting](https://docs.vntranslator.com/help/troubleshooting/ocr) section for common issues and solutions.