QuickNotes

What QuickNotes does

• NormallyWith QuickNotes
• Text in a photo or a screenshotNormally: Type it outWith QuickNotes: Drag, copied
• Subtitles or a slide in a paused videoNormally: Type it outWith QuickNotes: Drag, copied
• A scanned PDF you can’t selectNormally: Can’t copyWith QuickNotes: Copied
• An error message or a button in an appNormally: Can’t copyWith QuickNotes: Copied
• Bangla or Hindi textNormally: Most readers failWith QuickNotes: Read correctly

It waits quietly by the clock. Right Alt keeps working as usual: only a quick double-tap starts a scan. A typical scan takes about two seconds.

How to use it

Right Alt tap twice quickly

The screen dims. Drag over the text you want, and it’s read and copied

Ctrl + V

Pastes the text wherever you like

Esc or right-click

Cancels the scan. Whatever you had copied before stays on your clipboard

A small note tells you what’s happening: Reading text…, then Copied with a soft sound. If there was nothing to read, it says No text found.

Set it up in two minutes

1. Download it

   Click the download button. You get one small file, QuickNotes.exe. There is nothing to install.

2. Double-click the file

   A small scan icon appears next to the clock.

   See “Windows protected your PC”? Click More info, then Run anyway. Windows shows this for small apps from independent makers. It doesn’t mean something is wrong.

3. Add your free Gemini key, once

   QuickNotes uses Google Gemini to read text, which is why it understands Bangla and other languages. The key is free, and a setup window walks you through it the first time:

   1. Click Open AI Studio and sign in with your Google account.
   2. Click Create API key, then Copy. The key appears in the QuickNotes window by itself.
   3. Click Test. When it says the key works, click Save.

   Your key is locked to your Windows account, so only you, on this PC, can use it.

4. That’s it

   Double-tap Right Alt and try it. To have QuickNotes ready every time you turn on your PC, right-click the scan icon and tick Start with Windows.

   Can’t see the icon? Click the small up arrow next to the clock.

What happens to your screen

• Only the box you drag is sent to Google Gemini to read the text. Nothing else leaves your PC.
• Nothing is saved: no screenshots and no text files. The text only goes to your clipboard.
• On Google’s free plan, Google may use what you send to improve its products. Don’t scan passwords, bank details or other private information.

Removing it

1. Right-click the scan icon and untick Start with Windows.
2. Right-click the icon again and click Exit.
3. Delete QuickNotes.exe. To remove your saved key and settings too, type %AppData% into the File Explorer address bar and delete the QuickNotes folder.