README file from
GithubHandwriting to Text
An Obsidian plugin that transcribes handwritten pages into text using Google Gemini AI.
Photograph your handwritten notes, journal entries, or anything on paper — the plugin extracts the text and inserts it directly into your active note at the cursor position.
Features
- Scan from file or camera — pick an image from your device, or use your phone's camera directly on mobile
- Scan from clipboard — paste a screenshot or photo you've already copied
- Select from vault — choose an image already in your Obsidian vault
- Drag and drop — drop an image onto the modal (desktop)
- Editable preview — review and edit the extracted text before inserting
- HEIC support — iPhone photos (HEIC format) are automatically converted for preview on desktop
- Thai and multilingual support — faithfully transcribes non-English handwriting
- Customizable prompt — tweak the OCR instructions to suit your handwriting style
- Works on mobile — fully functional on iOS and Android Obsidian
How to use
- Open any note in the editor
- Place your cursor where you want the text inserted
- Trigger the plugin via:
- The camera icon in the left sidebar ribbon, or
- The command palette: "Handwriting to Text: Scan handwriting", or
- The command palette: "Handwriting to Text: Scan from clipboard"
- Select or photograph your handwritten page
- Review the transcription, edit if needed
- Click "Insert into Note"
Setup
- Install the plugin from Obsidian's Community Plugins
- Enable it in Settings > Community Plugins
- Go to Settings > Handwriting to Text
- Paste your Google Gemini API key (get one free at Google AI Studio)
Settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Gemini API key | Your Google AI Studio API key |
| Model | Which Gemini model to use (default: Gemini 2.5 Flash) |
| OCR prompt | The instruction sent alongside the image — customize for your handwriting style or language |
Supported models
- Gemini 3 Flash (preview)
- Gemini 3 Pro (preview)
- Gemini 2.5 Flash (default, recommended)
- Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite (fastest, cheapest)
- Gemini 2.5 Pro (highest quality)
Privacy
- Images are sent to Google's Gemini API for processing. No data is stored by this plugin.
- Your API key is stored locally in your vault's plugin data folder.
- No telemetry or analytics are collected.