How to Copy Text From an Image or Screenshot (Mac, Windows, iPhone, Online)

A screenshot of an error message, a slide, a pricing table, a quote: the text is right there and you cannot select it. Every major platform can now copy text out of images. Here is how on each, plus an option that works anywhere.

Any device: in your browser

The free Screenshot Text Extractor works on Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook and phones. Drop or paste the image, wait a few seconds, copy the text. The reading happens in your browser, so the image is never uploaded, which matters for screenshots of private documents.

Mac: Live Text

On macOS Monterey and later:

1. Open the image in Preview, or press space to Quick Look it.
2. Hover over the text; the cursor becomes a text cursor.
3. Select and copy like normal text.

It also works in Safari on images in web pages, and in Photos.

iPhone and iPad: Live Text

Open the photo or screenshot, touch and hold the text, and use the selection handles. Or tap the Live Text button in the corner to select all. It works in the Camera too, before you even take the picture.

Windows

• Snipping Tool: take or open a screenshot, click Text actions, then Copy all text.
• PowerToys Text Extractor: press Windows+Shift+T and drag over any text on screen.

Android

Open the image in Google Photos and tap Lens, then select the text. Or use Google Lens directly from the camera.

Getting better results

• Larger is better. Zoom in before taking the screenshot.
• Contrast matters. Dark text on a light background reads best.
• Crop to the text you need.
• Check numbers and names after copying; they are where reading mistakes hide.

For designers

Being able to read text out of screenshots means a library of them becomes searchable by the words inside: "Start free trial", "pricing", an error message. That is what GetRef does for every screenshot you save. See how to search text inside screenshots.