323894 – Microsoft Purview compliance portal: Object Character Recognition (OCR) support for embedded images in Exchange Online and Microsoft Teams

Product:

Exchange, Purview, Purview Communication Compliance, Purview compliance portal, Teams

Platform:

Online, Web, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

Links:

Details:

Currently, Object Character Recognition (OCR) is available only for standalone images. This update supports OCR for images embedded in: 1. Hybrid PDF files, which are PDF files with both images and searchable text. 2. Office files with the extensions DOCX, PPTX, XLSX. 3. Container files such as zip, rar, 7z, and more.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability, Preview

Created:
2023-12-21

updated:
2026-01-21

Docu to Check

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MS workload name

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Increased Processing Time for Compliance Checks
The introduction of OCR for embedded images may lead to longer processing times for compliance checks, as the system will need to analyze both text and images within documents. This could result in delays in compliance reporting and potential backlog in processing requests.
   - roles: Compliance Officer, IT Administrator
   - references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/security-compliance-identity/microsoft-purview-compliance-portal-object-character-recognition/ba-p/3851230

User Experience Degradation
Users may experience slower performance in applications like Exchange Online and Teams due to the additional processing required for OCR on embedded images, leading to frustration and decreased productivity.
   - roles: End User, Support Staff
   - references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/security-compliance-identity/microsoft-purview-compliance-portal-object-character-recognition/ba-p/3851230

Configutation Options**

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Data Protection**

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IT Security**

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explanation for non-techies**

Imagine you're working on a case and you receive a large stack of documents. Some of these documents are printed pages, while others are photos of text, like a picture of a contract or a screenshot of an email. In the past, you might have had to manually read through each page to find the information you needed. Now, imagine having a tool that can automatically read and understand the text in those images for you. This is similar to what Object Character Recognition (OCR) does in the digital world.

Previously, OCR was like having a helper who could only read standalone images—like separate photos or scans. But with the recent updates to Microsoft's Purview compliance portal, this helper has become much more versatile. Now, it can also read text from images that are part of other documents. Think of it as if your helper can now read not just the separate photos but also images embedded within a PDF, Word document, or even inside a zipped folder of files.

For example, if you have a PDF that contains both text and images of text, or a Word document with a picture of a handwritten note, the updated OCR can extract and recognize the text from those images. This is like having a magnifying glass that allows you to see and understand every detail, even if it's hidden within a larger document.

This change is particularly useful for compliance and legal teams who need to review communications and documents quickly and efficiently. By being able to automatically extract text from a wider variety of sources, you can save time and reduce the risk of missing important information. It's like having a digital assistant that helps you keep track of everything, even the details that are tucked away in the corners of your files.