Extract text from images and scanned PDFs on Mac
Toolbox reads the text in images, screenshots and scanned PDFs and gives it back as plain text you can copy or save. Recognition runs on your Mac, so documents are never uploaded. You can drop a whole batch of files and save every result at once.
How to use Extract Text
Open Extract Text and drop images or PDFs onto the window.
Select a file in the list to see the recognized text.
Click Copy, or Save as Text to keep it as a .txt file.
With several files, click Save All as Text to export them in one go.
Questions about Extract Text
How do I copy text from an image on a Mac?
For a single photo, Live Text in Preview or Photos often works. For screenshots, scans and batches of files, drop them into Extract Text to get the full text of each one ready to copy or save.
How do I make a scanned PDF searchable or copyable?
Drop the scanned PDF into Extract Text. It recognizes the text on each page and lets you save it as a plain text file you can search, edit or paste elsewhere.
Is OCR in Toolbox done online?
No. Text recognition uses Apple's Vision framework on your Mac, so it works offline and your files stay private.
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