How to Extract Text from Image on iPhone for Totally FREE

Compared with copying scanned PDF text, extracting text from images on an iPhone has never been easier, thanks to both built-in and third-party solutions available at no cost, without OCR services.

This guide will walk you through the seamless process using the Photos app’s Live Text feature, directly from the Camera app, and by leveraging the capabilities of the Microsoft Office Lens app.

Using a Dedicated Text Extracting Tool

PDFgear Scan does more than accurate text recognition – it directly converts the extracted information into Word or TXT documents, making the text easy to read and edit.

This tool is ad-free and registration-free, with an intuitive interface. In just a few steps, you can copy, edit, and export text from a picture.

Step 1. Get PDFgear Scan from App Store on your iPhone or iPad and launch it.

Step 2. Tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom and choose “Gallery.” Select the photo(s) and tap “Done.”

Step 3. Rotate, crop, and straighten the picture with the tools below for high-quality scanning. Then, tap “DONE.”

Step 4. Choose the “To Text” option in the new window and the OCR feature will start content detection and obtaining. You can then opt for “Copy text,” “to Word,” or “Export to TXT.”

For blurry photos, you can improve accuracy by setting the scanning language and selecting “Re-OCR.”

Using Built-in Live Text Feature in Photos App

Apple’s introduction of the Live Text feature with iOS 15 revolutionized text extraction from images on the iPhone. This functionality is perfect for quickly capturing information from photos without the need for manual typing, converting to PDFs, or third-party applications.

Ideal scenarios for using this feature include extracting recipes from cooking books, capturing notes from whiteboards, or saving details from printed documents.

Step 1. Launch the Photos app on your iPhone and navigate to the photo containing the text you wish to extract.

Step 2. Long-tap a word in the image. You’ll notice that the word becomes highlighted. To select more text, drag the handles that appear to include the desired text or tap “Select All” to highlight all text in the photo.

Step 3. After selecting the text, tap “Copy” to copy it to your clipboard. You can now paste this text into notes, messages, emails, or any other app where you need to use the text.

Using Built-in Live Text Feature in Camera App

Not only can you extract text from images saved in your Photos app, but iOS 15 and later also allow you to capture text in real time using the Camera app.

This is particularly useful for instantly capturing and utilizing text from documents, books, or any text in your environment without having to take a photo and save it first.

Step 1. Open the Camera app and point it at the text you wish to capture.

Step 2. Point your camera at the document or image with text. If Live Text is available, the Live Text icon (lines of text in a box) will appear.

Step 3. Tap and drag to select the text you wish to copy, then tap ‘Copy’. If you wish to copy all the text available, then tap “Select All” to capture all visible text.

Using the Microsoft Office Lens App

For those who need more advanced features or prefer a dedicated app for text extraction, Microsoft Office Lens is a fantastic free option. It offers Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to accurately convert images to text.

This app is perfect for users who need to manage a large volume of documents, such as students and professionals. Not only the app is limited to extracting text but also enhances the quality of photos taken of documents and whiteboards.

Step 1. First, download the Microsoft Office Lens app from the App Store. Once installed, open the app.

Step 2. You have the option to take a new photo using the app or import an existing one from your gallery. Tap ‘Actions’ to continue with this step.

Step 3. Choose the document or whiteboard mode based on the type of image you’re working with for optimal text recognition.

Step 4. If you’re taking a new photo, align the camera and take the picture. The app will automatically recognize and extract text using Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Press ‘Confirm’ when all the text is selected and ready to be extracted.

Step 4. Once the text has been extracted, you can edit it within the app, copy it, or save it to your desired location.

Conclusion

By leveraging these tools, iPhone users can effortlessly extract text from images, typing on PDFs, enhancing productivity, and making information capture as seamless as possible. Whether using the built-in features of iOS or opting for a third-party app like Microsoft Office Lens, text extraction is a powerful capability that’s easily accessible and entirely free.