How to Copy Text from a Photo Using Live Text on iPhone

Step by step

1. 30 sec

   Enable Live Text in Settings

   Navigate to Settings, select General, and tap Language & Region. Ensure the Live Text toggle is switched to the On position to activate the system-wide text recognition engine.

   Note: Live Text is enabled by default on most devices updated to iOS 15 or later.
2. 1 min

   Use the Camera app

   Point your iPhone camera at the document or object containing text. Look for the yellow frame detection box and tap the Live Text icon, which appears as a square containing three horizontal lines, in the bottom-right corner of the viewfinder.

   Note: If the icon does not appear, ensure the text is well-lit and held steady within the frame.
3. 30 sec

   Select the desired text

   Once the image freezes, tap and hold on the recognized text. Use the selection handles to highlight the specific characters or words you wish to copy.

   Note: Double-tapping a word will automatically select that word.
4. 30 sec

   Copy the selection

   After highlighting the text, a floating menu will appear. Tap Copy to save the data to your device's universal clipboard.

   Note: You can now paste this content into any other application like Notes, Mail, or Messages.
5. 1 min

   Extract text from existing photos

   Open the Photos app and select any image containing text. Tap the Live Text icon in the bottom-right corner of the image, then perform the standard selection and copy commands as detailed in previous steps.

   Note: This feature also supports phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses, allowing you to tap them directly to perform actions like calling or mapping.