How to Scan Text on an iPhone (Live Text vs. Notes)

TL;DR

• For quick text grabs from photos: Use Live Text. Just open a photo and long-press the text to copy it.
• For multi-page documents or searchable PDFs: Use the scanner in the Notes app.

Your iPhone is a powerful tool for digitizing the world around you, and that includes more than just pictures. It has two fantastic, built-in features for capturing printed text from books, signs, documents, or even handwritten notes. The first is Live Text, which instantly makes text in your photos selectable and interactive. The second is the document scanner hidden in the Notes app, which is perfect for creating clean, searchable PDFs. Understanding the difference between these two tools is key to working efficiently. This guide will show you exactly how and when to use each method, plus some pro tips for getting the most accurate results every time.

If you're looking to digitize printed photos, not just text, our complete guide to scanning photos on an iPhone is the best place to start.

Method 1: Use Live Text for Quick Captures

Live Text is the fastest way to pull a snippet of text from an image. It's built directly into the Camera and Photos apps.

1. From a New Photo: Open your Camera app and point it at the text. When your iPhone recognizes it, a yellow bracket will appear around the text and a Live Text icon will pop up in the corner. Tap the icon to interact with the text directly—you can copy it, translate it, or even call a phone number.
2. From an Existing Photo: Open any photo or screenshot in your Photos app. Simply press and hold on any text in the image. Drag the selection handles to highlight what you need, then choose "Copy," "Look Up," or "Translate."

Live Text is perfect for grabbing a quote from a book, a phone number from a business card, or a password from a Wi-Fi router.

Method 2: Use the Notes App for Documents and PDFs

When you need to scan one or more full pages and save them as a clean, searchable document, the Notes app is the superior tool.

1. Open a New Note: Launch the Notes app, create a new note, and tap the Camera icon.
2. Select "Scan Documents": Your camera will open in a special mode. Hold it over your document, and it will automatically detect the page and capture it.
3. Save as a PDF: Once you've scanned all your pages, tap "Save." The scanned pages will be bundled into a single, clean PDF inside your note, which you can then share or save to your files. The text within this PDF will be automatically recognized (a process called OCR), making it searchable.

This method is ideal for contracts, recipes, homework, and any document you want to archive digitally.

Tips for the Best Results

• Good Lighting is Crucial: Both methods work best with bright, even light. Avoid shadows and glare.
• Keep it Steady and Parallel: Hold your phone as flat and parallel to the page as possible to avoid distortion. Use the grid in your Camera settings to help you align it.
• Increase Contrast for Faint Text: If the text is faded, try increasing the contrast in the Photos app editor before using Live Text.

Troubleshooting

• Live Text Isn't Appearing: Make sure Live Text is enabled in Settings > General > Language & Region. It also requires a modern iPhone and the latest version of iOS.
• Inaccurate Text Recognition: If the scanned text has errors, it's likely due to poor lighting, a complex font, or a blurry image. Try retaking the photo in a brighter location.

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Editor’s note: Digitizing text is a powerful utility, but digitizing your family's photos is an act of preservation. Learn how to properly archive your old photos to protect your history.