How to Copy Text from Screenshots on Mac (OCR Guide)

# How to Copy Text from Screenshots on Mac: Complete OCR Guide

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) lets you copy text from screenshot images on Mac — transforming what looks like static pixels into editable, searchable text you can paste anywhere. Whether you're extracting a phone number from a photo, copying code from a tutorial video, or digitizing a receipt, OCR makes it possible.

The good news? If you're running macOS Monterey or later, you already have basic OCR built into your Mac. But for more demanding workflows — capturing text from videos, transcribing handwritten notes, or extracting text from areas your cursor can't reach — you'll need something more powerful.

This guide covers every method to copy text from screenshots on Mac, from free built-in tools to dedicated OCR apps. You'll learn which approach works best for different scenarios and how to build a workflow that saves hours of manual typing.

What is OCR and why you need it to copy text from screenshots

OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is technology that converts images of text into actual, editable text. When you take a screenshot on Mac, the text in that image isn't selectable — it's just pixels. OCR analyzes those pixels, identifies characters, and outputs text you can copy, paste, search, and edit.

You need OCR when you encounter:

• Error messages that can't be selected with your cursor
• Text in images from websites, PDFs, or presentations
• Code snippets in tutorial videos or screenshots
• Receipts and documents you need to digitize
• Phone numbers and addresses embedded in photos
• Text in video calls or screenshares you want to reference

Without OCR, you're stuck manually typing everything you see. With it, you select an area and instantly have the text in your clipboard. The time savings add up quickly — especially if you work with screenshots regularly.

Method 1: Live Text (built-in, free)

Apple's Live Text feature brings OCR to every Mac running macOS Monterey (12.0) or later. It works automatically in Preview, Safari, Photos, and Quick Look — no setup required.

Requirements

• macOS Monterey (12.0) or later — check Apple menu > About This Mac (system requirements)
• Apple Silicon or Intel Mac — works on both
• Supported apps: Preview, Safari, Photos, Quick Look

Using Live Text in Preview

1. Open any image containing text in Preview
2. Hover your cursor over the text — it changes to an I-beam cursor
3. Click and drag to select text, just like in a document
4. Press ⌘ + C to copy, then ⌘ + V to paste anywhere

If text selection isn't working, go to Tools > Text Selection to enable the Text Selection tool.

Using Live Text in Safari and Photos

Live Text works the same way across Apple's apps:

• Safari: Hover over images on web pages to select embedded text
• Photos: Open any photo and select text directly
• Quick Look: Press Space on any image file in Finder, then select text

Live Text limitations

While convenient, Live Text has restrictions:

• Static images only — doesn't work on video or live content
• Must be openable in supported apps — can't capture from arbitrary screen areas
• No keyboard shortcut — requires manual clicking and dragging
• Limited to Apple apps — doesn't work in third-party apps
• Accuracy varies — struggles with stylized fonts, handwriting, and low-resolution images

For basic image-to-text extraction, Live Text is perfect. For anything more — capturing text from video, screen regions, or non-standard sources — you'll need a dedicated tool.

Method 2: TextSniper (best dedicated OCR)

TextSniper is a purpose-built OCR tool that extracts text from anywhere on your Mac screen. Unlike Live Text, it works on video, live content, protected PDFs, and any application — including areas where text selection is blocked.

How TextSniper works

1. Press ⌘ + Shift + 2 (or customize your shortcut)
2. Drag a rectangle around any text on screen
3. The text is instantly copied to your clipboard
4. Press ⌘ + V to paste

That's it. No opening apps, no importing files — just select and copy. TextSniper handles:

• Video and livestreams — pause not required
• QR codes and barcodes — automatically decoded
• Multiple languages — 20+ supported on macOS Ventura
• Text-to-speech — have captured text read aloud

TextSniper pricing

• One-time purchase: $9.99 from the Mac App Store
• Setapp subscription: Included with 250+ other Mac apps

For users who regularly extract text from screenshots, TextSniper pays for itself within a day of use.

Method 3: CleanShot X (screenshot + OCR)

CleanShot X is a premium screenshot tool that includes OCR as one of its many features. If you already use CleanShot X for annotating screenshots or capturing scrolling content, its OCR feature is a natural addition.

Using CleanShot X for OCR

1. Click the CleanShot X icon in your menu bar
2. Select Capture Text (OCR)
3. Drag a rectangle around the text you want
4. The text is copied to your clipboard automatically

CleanShot X also lets you:

• Save OCR results directly to CleanShot Cloud
• Combine text capture with annotations
• Extract text from recorded video clips

CleanShot X pricing

• One-time purchase: $29 (includes 1 year of updates)
• Subscription: $8/month with cloud storage

If you need both screenshots and OCR, CleanShot X is excellent value. For OCR alone, TextSniper is more cost-effective. Check our CleanShot X alternatives guide for more options.

Method 4: ScreenSnap Pro (all-in-one)

ScreenSnap Pro combines screenshot capture, annotation, and OCR in a single Mac-native app. The built-in text recognition works on any screen content — images, videos, apps, and even protected areas where copying is normally disabled.

Key OCR features

• One-click text capture from any screen region
• Works with video content — no pausing required
• Automatic clipboard copy — paste immediately
• Integrates with annotation tools — capture, extract, then markup

For Mac users who want screenshot tools and OCR in one app without subscription fees, ScreenSnap Pro offers the complete package. The one-time purchase includes all features with lifetime updates.

Method 5: Google Docs (online, free)

If you don't want to install any apps, Google Drive's built-in OCR provides a free alternative. It works entirely in your browser and handles most common image formats.

How to extract text with Google Docs

1. Upload your screenshot or image to Google Drive
2. Right-click the uploaded file
3. Select Open with > Google Docs
4. Wait for Google to process the image
5. The extracted text appears below the original image

Google Docs OCR tips

• Use high-resolution images — better input means better output
• Avoid stylized fonts — standard fonts convert more accurately
• Split large documents — process in smaller sections for better results
• Check formatting — you may need to fix line breaks and spacing

This method is slower than dedicated tools but costs nothing and requires no downloads. It's ideal for occasional use or when you're on a borrowed computer.

Accuracy comparison

Not all OCR tools perform equally. Here's how they compare on common text extraction tasks:

Key findings:

• Standard printed text: All tools perform well with clean, high-contrast text
• Code and symbols: Dedicated apps handle special characters better than Live Text
• Handwriting: No tool excels here — expect 60-70% accuracy at best
• Video capture: Only third-party apps can capture from live video

For most users, TextSniper or ScreenSnap Pro offer the best balance of accuracy, speed, and convenience.

Real-world use cases

OCR isn't just for tech enthusiasts. Here's how different professionals use text extraction daily:

Digitizing receipts and expenses

Photograph receipts with your iPhone, then extract merchant names, dates, and amounts on your Mac. Apps like TextSniper can even read QR codes on receipts for payment verification.

Copying error messages

When an app crashes, the error dialog often blocks text selection. With OCR, you can capture the entire error message — including stack traces — and paste it into Google or a support ticket. No more retyping cryptic error codes.

Extracting code from tutorials

Video tutorials and screenshots often contain code you need. Instead of pausing and typing each line, use OCR to grab entire code blocks. Just watch for special characters that might not convert perfectly.

Research and note-taking

Academic papers, ebooks, and scanned documents often have text you can't select. OCR lets you extract quotes, data, and references directly into your notes — with proper attribution, of course.

Accessibility

For users with motor impairments that make typing difficult, OCR provides an alternative input method. Combined with text-to-speech, it can also assist users with reading difficulties.

Tips for better OCR results

OCR accuracy depends heavily on image quality. Follow these guidelines for best results:

1. Maximize contrast — dark text on light backgrounds converts best
2. Avoid shadows and glare — uneven lighting causes recognition errors
3. Use high resolution — more pixels means more detail for analysis
4. Keep text horizontal — angled text reduces accuracy
5. Skip decorative fonts — standard fonts like Arial, Helvetica, and Times convert reliably

If OCR fails on a particular image, try adjusting the screenshot — sometimes a slightly different crop or better lighting makes all the difference. If your screenshots aren't working at all, fix that first before attempting OCR.

Which method should you choose?

Here's a quick decision guide:

• Occasional use, static images only → Live Text (free, built-in)
• Frequent use, any screen content → TextSniper ($9.99 one-time)
• Screenshots + OCR in one tool → CleanShot X ($29) or ScreenSnap Pro
• No installation, browser only → Google Docs (free)
• Long documents, batch processing → Prizmo or Adobe Acrobat

For most Mac users, Live Text covers basic needs. Power users who extract text regularly will save hours with TextSniper or ScreenSnap Pro — the small investment pays off immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy text from any screenshot on Mac?

Yes, with the right tool. Live Text works on static images in Preview, Safari, and Photos. For text in videos, protected PDFs, or arbitrary screen regions, use TextSniper, CleanShot X, or ScreenSnap Pro. These apps can capture text from anywhere on your screen, regardless of the source application.

Does Live Text work on older Macs?

Live Text requires macOS Monterey (12.0) or later, which runs on most Macs from 2015 and newer. Check Apple menu > About This Mac to see your version. If you're on an older macOS, third-party OCR tools like TextSniper work on macOS Catalina and later.

How accurate is OCR on handwritten text?

Handwriting recognition remains challenging for all OCR tools. Expect 60-70% accuracy on neat handwriting and lower on cursive or messy writing. For best results, print clearly and use high-contrast ink on white paper. No current consumer tool matches human reading ability for handwriting.

Is OCR text extraction legal?

Extracting text for personal use is generally legal. However, republishing copyrighted content — even if extracted via OCR — may violate copyright law. Always attribute quotes properly and respect intellectual property rights. When in doubt, link to sources rather than republishing large blocks of text.

Can I extract text from protected PDFs?

Some PDFs disable text selection as a security measure. OCR tools like TextSniper work around this by treating the PDF as an image — they "see" the text visually rather than accessing it programmatically. This typically works, though accuracy may be lower than selectable text. For blurred or pixelated content, OCR cannot recover hidden information.

Next steps

Now that you know how to copy text from screenshots on Mac, put these tools to work:

1. Try Live Text first — open an image in Preview and see if text is selectable
2. Install a dedicated tool if you need more power — TextSniper or ScreenSnap Pro are excellent choices
3. Build a workflow — set up keyboard shortcuts for instant text capture
4. Optimize your images — better screenshots mean better OCR results

Whether you're digitizing documents, capturing code, or just avoiding manual typing, OCR transforms how you work with visual content on Mac. Start with the free options, then upgrade as your needs grow.