Copy text from the screen with on-device OCR
Select screen text. It is copied automatically, ready to paste. Recognition runs on your Mac without saving a screenshot.
On this page
Extract text from a visible region
This is useful for a short passage in an image, a paused presentation, or an application that does not offer text selection. Use a clear, enlarged view when the original text is small.
- Press Control–Option–T, the default screen-text recognition shortcut.
- Drag over the text and release to recognize it.
- When “Text copied to clipboard” appears, paste with Command–V. Check names, numbers and code before using them.
Understand what is saved
Screen OCR processes pixels in memory without creating an image project. Copied text follows your clipboard-history settings. Empty results, errors and cancellation leave the clipboard unchanged. OCR in the image editor also copies recognized text automatically.
The result window is off by default. Enable Show Recognized Text Window in Settings → Text Recognition & Translation to review and edit results; successful recognition still copies automatically.
Improve the result
Text size, contrast, compression and unusual fonts affect recognition. Enlarge a small source and choose a focused region with readable text. Automatic language detection helps select the recognition language, but it does not guarantee every script or layout will be recognized accurately.
OCR recognizes characters; it is not a promise of exact page layout or handwriting transcription. Review any extracted command or code before running it.
Translate recognized text
Press Control–Option–Y and select text to recognize and translate it. The translation appears below the original and is copied automatically. You can also click Translate in the result window. Choose the translation service and target language in Settings → Text Recognition & Translation.
Translation uses Apple Intelligence on supported Macs or an OpenAI-compatible service you set up with your own API key. With a cloud service, the recognized text is sent to that provider only when you translate; see the privacy page for details.
Questions & answers
Is screen text sent to an AI service?
Recognition uses Apple Vision on your Mac and sends nothing. Only when you translate with an OpenAI-compatible service is the recognized text sent, directly to the provider you set up; Apple Intelligence and a local Ollama server keep it on your Mac. Optional AI image sharing is a separate action with separate permissions.
Can I change the OCR shortcut?
Yes. Change the text-recognition shortcut in Settings → Shortcuts. The default is Control–Option–T.
Try it on your Mac.
14-day full-feature trial. macOS 15+ and Apple Silicon.
Download ClipOrigin