Source: https://mactoolbox.app/how-to-copy-text-from-an-image-on-mac

# How to copy text from an image on Mac

By Nikhil Barik · Published November 3, 2026

## Quick answer

For one photo, Live Text in Preview or Photos usually lets you select the text directly. For batches, scanned PDFs, or text on screen that cannot be selected, use Extract Text or Capture Text in Toolbox. Recognition runs on your Mac.

## The built-in way: Live Text

1. Open the image in Preview or Photos.
2. Move the pointer over the text. If it is recognized, the cursor changes to a text cursor.
3. Click and drag to select the text, then press Command-C to copy.

This works well on one image at a time. Results depend on the image quality and language.

## The Toolbox way, for files: Extract Text

Extract Text reads the text in images, screenshots and scanned PDFs and gives it back as plain text you can copy or save. You can drop a whole batch of files and save every result at once.

1. Open Extract Text and drop images or PDFs onto the window.
2. Select a file in the list to see the recognized text.
3. Click Copy, or Save as Text to keep it as a .txt file.
4. With several files, click Save All as Text to export them in one go.

## The Toolbox way, for the screen: Capture Text

Some text on screen cannot be selected, like words in a video, an image, a slide being shared or a locked dialog. Capture Text lets you drag a box around it and copies the recognized text.

1. Open Capture Text and click Capture Text from Screen, or press Command-Shift-2 while the window is active.
2. Drag a box around the text you want.
3. The text appears in the window and is copied to the clipboard if Copy text automatically is on.

## Tips and troubleshooting

- Capture Text asks for Screen Recording permission because macOS requires it for any app that reads the screen. The capture is processed on your Mac and is not saved or sent anywhere.
- Earlier captures are kept in History, and you can save one as a text file.
- To make a scanned PDF searchable in place, use Make PDF Searchable.

## Frequently asked questions

**How do I copy text from an image on a Mac?**

Select it with Live Text in Preview or Photos. For batches or scans, drop the files into Extract Text.

**How do I copy text that cannot be selected on a Mac?**

Use Capture Text to drag a box around it. Toolbox reads the pixels with on-device OCR.

**Is OCR in Toolbox done online?**

No. It uses Apple's Vision framework on your Mac, so it works offline.

**Can I read text from a scanned PDF?**

Yes. Drop it into Extract Text and save the result as a text file.

## Tools mentioned

- [**Extract Text**: Recognize text in images, screenshots and scanned PDFs.](https://mactoolbox.app/extract-text-from-image-mac)
- [**Capture Text**: Select any area of the screen and copy the text in it.](https://mactoolbox.app/copy-text-from-screen-mac)
- [**Make PDF Searchable**: Add an invisible text layer to scanned PDFs so you can search, select and copy their text.](https://mactoolbox.app/ocr-pdf-mac)
- [**PDF to Word**: Turn PDFs into Word documents you can edit, with headings, lists and paragraphs.](https://mactoolbox.app/pdf-to-word-mac)

## Keep reading

- [Extract Text](https://mactoolbox.app/extract-text-from-image-mac)
- [Capture Text](https://mactoolbox.app/copy-text-from-screen-mac)
- [All guides](https://mactoolbox.app/guides)