How to Copy Text From Image on iPhone - Step-by-Step Guide

This post comprehensively explains the step-by-step process of copying text from images on an iPhone.

Remember, extracting or copying text from images on an iPhone is much easier than on an Android phone. This process becomes easier with the Live Text feature supported by iOS 15 or its latest versions. Yet, some new iPhone users still don’t know how to use this feature.

In the below sections, we’ll explore two effective ways through which you can easily copy text from images on iPhones. Reading this blog will help you smoothly convert any type of image without any technical expertise.

Effective Ways of Copying Text from Images on iPhone

Whether you are a beginner, a new iPhone user, or an old one. If you don't know how to extract text from an image on an iPhone, here are some practical ways that gonna help you!

1st Method: Extracting Text from Images Using Live Text Feature

If you are using an iPhone with iOS 15 or above, you can enable the built-in function of the live text feature from the settings, which will help you extract text from the image easily.

Steps to Use Live Text Function:

• First of all, open your iPhone settings and tap "General.”

• After going to general, click on “Language & Region.”

• Following this step, open the “Live Text” toggle bar. Turn it on!

• Now open your gallery, select your image, and hold on to the image text. It will make your image text editable and give you options to copy, select all, look up, and translate the text from your image.

• You can select all the text and click the copy button to copy it to your clipboard and paste it anywhere. That's it!

2nd Method: Recognizing Text by Using an Online OCR Tool

If your iPhone doesn’t support the live text feature or has no app to recognize or extract the text from an image, you can use online OCR technology based tools.

There are many online image OCR tools, but it is hard to choose the right one. If you want a free and easy-to-use tool for conversion, you can use our Image to Text Converter tool.

Steps to Use The Online Tool:

Our tool will help you extract text from the image on your iPhone in just a few clicks without installing any application on your phone. In this blog, we will also provide you with the simple methods of using this tool.

• Open your Chrome or Safari browser and search for Picturetotext.info.

• You can log in to it or go without it. It's optional.

• Once you’ve opened the tool, you will see multiple options like drag, upload, or paste and browse images. You can choose your desired one to upload the image for conversion.

Here’s a sample image I am going to upload to extract text from it.

• After uploading the images, you can simply start conversion by clicking on the “convert” option. And the best thing about this tool is that you can upload “Multiple Files” at a time.

• It will convert your images into text just in a few seconds. You can “Download” or “Copy” the extracted text as per your choice.

• You can find your copied text on your phone’s clipboard and use it wherever you want.

That’s how you can copy and extract your text from an image on an iPhone if it doesn’t have this feature.

The Final Thoughts

Whether you have an old iPhone or the newest one, you can learn how to extract and copy the text from the images in this blog. Every step has been covered in detail. Additionally, we have provided you with detailed information about the specific features and best image-to-text converter that will be helpful in this scenario. After using the methods mentioned above, you’ll find that your everyday tasks will become much easier.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can the iPhone copy text from the image?

Yes, the latest iPhone models with iOS 15 or above support the Live Text Feature, which helps you extract text from the image easily.

2. What is the Live Text feature on iPhone?

Live Text is a useful feature of the iPhone that gives you the option to recognize and copy the text from any image. It uses advanced optical character recognition (OCR) to detect and highlight text in photos, videos, and even live camera view.

3. Can I copy text from images on older iPhones?

Unfortunately, Live Text is a newer feature that requires iOS 15 or later. So, if your iPhone is running an older version of iOS, you won't have access to this built-in functionality. So, in this case, you can use OCR-based online Image-to-Text converters.

4. How to copy and paste text from a picture on an iPhone?

1. Open the image in your Photos app.
2. Touch and hold a word in the image to select it.
3. Drag the grab points to select all the text you want.
4. Tap "Copy" in the menu.
5. Go to another app (like Notes or Mail) and paste the text.

This works with the Live Text feature on iPhones with iOS 15 or later.

5. Can I scan text from a photo on my iPhone?

Yes, you can scan text from any document or photo with your iPhone camera. You can also use a trusted OCR tool, which helps you detect text from images for further scan and copying.

6. Why is my iPhone not copying text from an image?

If your iPhone is not copying text from an image, make sure your iPhone has an updated IOS version and enabled live text feature. Also, make sure the image is clear and high quality. If nothing works, go for an online image-to-text converter to get text from images on your iPhone.

7. How to extract words from a picture on an iPhone quickly?

If you have an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, open the image and touch and hold a word to select it. Tap "Copy" to copy the text. Or, open the Camera app, point it at the text, and tap the Live Text icon. For older iPhones, use online Image OCR  tools or Google Lens.

8. Can Live Text copy text from videos?

Yes, absolutely! Live Text isn't limited to just images. It can also recognize and copy text from paused video frames.

9. How to copy text from images on MacBook?

MacBook has a built-in Live Text feature that makes it super easy to copy text from images on your MacBook.

1. Open the image containing the text in an app that supports Live Text, such as Preview, Photos, Safari, or Quick Look.
2. Move your cursor over the text you want to copy. The cursor will change to a text selection cursor (I-beam) when it recognizes text.
3. Click and drag to select the text you want to copy.
4. Right-click on the selected text and choose "Copy" from the context menu, or press Command + C.
5. Go to the document or app where you want to paste the text and press Command + V. 

That's all there is to it! Copying text from images on your MacBook is quick and convenient with this built-in feature.