How to extract text from a screenshot on Mac
The short answer: macOS can already do this — Live Text lets you select and copy text from an image in Preview, Photos or Quick Look. ShotScreen goes further: it runs OCR right inside the capture flow, reads QR codes and barcodes too, and copies everything in one tap. Take a screenshot, press ⌘⇧T, and the text is on your clipboard.
Step by step with ShotScreen
- 1
Capture the text you want
Take a screenshot of whatever holds the text — press ⌘⇧4 to drag a rectangle, or ⌘⇧W to grab a window. The capture appears as a live preview thumbnail.
- 2
Run Text Recognition (⌘⇧T)
Click Text Recognition in the action bar under the thumbnail, or press ⌘⇧T to OCR a region directly. ShotScreen reads the text on-device with Apple Vision.
- 3
Copy the text — or scan a QR code
The recognised text drops onto your clipboard in one tap ("Text Copied"). ShotScreen also detects QR codes and barcodes and copies their contents ("QR Copied!"). You can edit the result in the floating panel first.
- 4
Reach for older shots in History
Need text from a screenshot you took earlier? Open it from History or the stash and run Text Recognition again — no need to re-capture.
macOS Live Text vs. ShotScreen
Apple's Live Text is genuinely good for a quick copy out of a still image, and it is free with the system. Where ShotScreen helps is workflow: you do not have to save the screenshot, open it in another app and hunt for the text. The recognised text — and any QR code or barcode in the shot — is one tap away the moment you capture, and you can pull text out of anything you shot earlier straight from History.
Everything stays on your Mac
ShotScreen's text recognition runs 100% on-device through Apple Vision. Your screenshots are never uploaded for OCR, so it works offline and keeps whatever is on your screen private.
FAQ
Can macOS extract text from a screenshot on its own?
Yes. Since macOS Monterey, Live Text lets you select and copy text from images in Preview, Photos and Quick Look. ShotScreen adds OCR directly inside the capture flow, reads QR codes and barcodes too, and copies the result in a single tap.
Does ShotScreen read QR codes and barcodes?
Yes. Alongside plain text, ShotScreen detects QR codes and barcodes and copies their contents — a URL, contact card or product code — straight to your clipboard.
Is the text recognition done on-device?
Yes. OCR runs entirely on your Mac through Apple Vision. Nothing is uploaded, so it works offline and your screenshots never leave the device.
Pull text out of any screenshot
ShotScreen is free to use, with 5 popup-free screenshots a day. Text recognition, QR scanning and every other tool are included from the start.
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