Copy and translate text from photos on your iPhone or iPad
You can use Live Text to copy text in photos or videos, translate languages, make a call, and more.
Use Live Text to get information from photos, videos, and images
Live Text recognizes information within your photos, videos, and images you find online. That means you can make a call, send an email, or look up directions with a tap. Your iPhone or iPad can also speak aloud Live Text with Speak Selection.
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
.
To turn on Live Text for all supported languages:
Open the Settings app.
Tap General.
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 (M4) models and iPad Air (M2) models, 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.
To use Live Text for video, you need iOS 16 or later or iPadOS 16 or later.
Copy text in a photo, video, or image
Open the Photos app and select a photo or video, or select an image online.
Touch and hold a word and move the grab points to adjust the selection. If the text is in a video, pause the video first.
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 in the lower-right corner of the photo.
In iOS 16 and later, you can also isolate the subject of a photo and copy or share it through apps like Messages or Mail.
Make a call or send an email
Open a photo or video, or select an image online. If the text is in a video, pause the video first.
Tap the Live Text button
.Tap the phone number or email address that appears to call or send an email. Depending on the photo, image, or website, you might see the option to Make a FaceTime call or Add to Contacts.
Translate text within a photo, video, or image
Open a photo or video, or select an image online. If the text is in a video, pause the video first.
Tap the Live Text button
.Tap Translate. You might need to tap Continue, then choose a language to translate in, or tap Change Language.
You can also translate text from images in the Translate app.
Learn which regions and languages currently support Live Text.
Search with text from your images
Open a photo or video, or select an image online.
Touch and hold a word and move the grab points to adjust the selection. If the text is in a video, pause the video first.
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.
