Copy and translate text from photos on your iPhone or iPad

With iOS 15 and later or iPadOS 15.1 and later, you can use Live Text to copy text in photos, translate languages, make a call, and more.

Use Live Text to get information from photos and images

Live Text recognizes information within your photos and online images, so you can make a call, send an email, or look up directions with a tap. You can also use Live Text in the Camera app or when using Camera in apps like Notes or Reminders — point your camera at a photo or image with text, then tap the Live Text button The Detect Text button.

To turn on Live Text for all supported languages:

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

To use Live Text, you need an iPhone XS, iPhone XR, or later with iOS 15 or later.

Live Text is also available on iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) or later, iPad Pro 11-inch (all models), iPad Air (3rd generation) or later, iPad (8th generation) or later, and iPad mini (5th generation) or later with iPadOS 15.1 or later.

Highlighting text in a photo of a Cat Adoption Day poster to reveal the Live Text button 

Copy text in a photo or image

  1. Open the Photos app and select a photo, or select an image online.
  2. Touch and hold a word and move the grab points to adjust the selection.
  3. Tap Copy. To select all of the text in the photo, tap Select All.

After you copy the text, you can paste it in another app or share it with someone. To highlight all text in a photo or image, select a photo or image, then tap the Live Text button The Detect Text button in the lower-right corner of the photo.

The options to to make a call or send an email with Live Text on iPhone 

Make a call or send an email

  1. Open the Photos app and select a photo, or select an image online.
  2. Tap the phone number or email address.
  3. Then tap Call or Send Message. Depending on the photo, image, or website, you might see the option to Make a FaceTime call or Add to Contacts.

Using Live Text to translate a Blueberry Muffin recipe ingredient  

Translate text within a photo or image

  1. Open the Photos app and select a photo, or select an image online.
  2. Touch and hold a word and move the grab points to adjust the selection.
  3. Tap Translate. You might need to tap Continue, then choose a language to translate in, or tap Change Language.

Learn which regions and languages currently support Live Text.

An iPhone user looks up the word "delighted" in a dictionary after using Live Text to identity the word in a photo

Find text from your images on the web

  1. Open the Photos app and select a photo, or select an image online.
  2. Touch and hold a word and move the grab points to adjust the selection.
  3. Tap Look Up. 

If you tap Look Up and select just one word, a dictionary appears. If you select more than one word, Siri Suggested Websites and other resources for the topic appear.

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