How to use Live Text to copy text from images on iPhone

Ever taken a photo of a phone number or a sign and wished you could copy the text? With Live Text on your iPhone®, you can. It’s a built-in feature that lets you pull text from photos, screenshots, or even live camera views—and turn it into something you can copy, share, or use.

At Asurion, our experts help millions of people get the most out of their tech. Here’s our guide to using Live Text on your iPhone.

What is Live Text?

Live Text is a feature that lets your iPhone recognize text in photos and videos. It works in the Photos app, Camera app, Safari, and more. You can use it to copy a phone number, look up an address, translate a menu, or search for a product.

Live Text is available on iPhones running iOS 15 or later, and it works best on iPhone XS or newer.

How to turn on Live Text

Before you start using Live Text, make sure it’s turned on:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General, then tap Language & Region.
3. Scroll down and make sure Live Text is turned on.

How to use Live Text in the Camera app

You can use Live Text to grab text from something you're looking at in real time.

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Point your iPhone at the text you want to capture.
3. Wait for a yellow frame to appear around the text.
4. Tap the Live Text button in the corner of the screen.
5. Choose an option like Copy, Look Up, Translate, or Share.

How to use Live Text in the Photos app

You can also use Live Text on images you’ve already taken.

1. Open the Photos app and select a photo that contains text.
2. Tap and hold the text you want to extract.
3. Choose what you want to do—Copy it, Look Up, Translate, or Share.

How to use Live Text in a screenshot

Live Text works on screenshots too:

1. Take a screenshot by pressing the Side button and Volume Up (on Face ID models) or the Side button and Home button (on Touch ID models).
2. Open the screenshot from the thumbnail or in the Photos app.
3. Tap and hold the text to select it, then choose an action like Copy or Translate.

How to use Live Text in Safari

If you're browsing and see an image with text, you can interact with it using Live Text.

1. Tap and hold the image.
2. Choose Show Text or Live Text.
3. Select the text you want to copy or take action on.

What else can you do with Live Text?

Live Text is smart—it doesn’t just copy text. It can:

• Call phone numbers directly from a photo.
• Open websites from a picture of a URL.
• Add calendar events from dates.
• Translate languages in real time.

Having trouble with Live Text?

If Live Text isn’t working, try these steps:

• Make sure your iPhone is updated to the latest version of iOS.
• Restart your device.
• Try using Live Text in a well-lit environment.
• Check that Live Text is turned on in your settings.

FAQ

What iPhones support Live Text?

Live Text works on iPhones with iOS 15 or later, starting with the iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and newer models. Some features, like Live Text in video, may require iOS 16 or later.

Can I use Live Text on handwritten notes?

Live Text can sometimes recognize neat, printed handwriting, but it's mainly designed for typed text. If your writing is clear, it may work — but results can vary.

Does Live Text work on videos?

Yes. If you’re running iOS 16 or later, you can pause a video and use Live Text to copy or interact with any text that appears on screen. Just tap the Live Text icon when it shows up.

Is Live Text available in all languages?

Live Text supports many languages, including English, Spanish, French, Chinese, German, Italian, and more. You can also use it to translate text between supported languages in real time.

How do I turn off Live Text?

To turn off Live Text:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General, then Language & Region.
3. Turn off Live Text.