COPYING TEXT FROM IMAGES, PDFs, OR EVEN SCREENSHOTS CAN BE A REAL CHALLENGE. But what if you could copy text from any Mac screen with just a few clicks? This is where the new Text Lens feature comes in – a game-changer for productivity. You can use it to extract text from any image or screen, and then paste it into a document or email.
What is Text Lens and How Does it Work?
The Text Lens feature uses AI to recognize and extract text from images and screens. This feature is especially useful when you need to quote something from a screenshot or image, but don’t want to spend time typing it out manually. You can access Text Lens by right-clicking on an image or screen, or by using the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + 7.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using Text Lens
Using Text Lens is straightforward. Here’s how you can do it:
- Open the image or screen you want to extract text from
- Right-click on the image or press Command + Shift + 7 to activate Text Lens
- Select the text you want to extract by drawing a box around it
- Copy the extracted text by right-clicking and selecting ‘Copy’
Benefits of Using Text Lens for Productivity
Using Text Lens can save you a lot of time and effort when working with images and screens. For example, if you’re a researcher or student, you can use Text Lens to extract quotes from images of books or articles. You can also use it to extract text from screenshots of web pages or documents. This feature can be a huge time-saver, especially when working on projects that involve a lot of research or data entry.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Text Lens
To get the most out of Text Lens, make sure the image or screen you’re working with is clear and high-quality. You should also make sure the text is legible and not distorted in any way. Additionally, you can use Text Lens in combination with other productivity tools, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word, to streamline your workflow.
Alternatives to Text Lens
While Text Lens is a powerful tool, there are other alternatives available. For example, you can use Adobe Acrobat to extract text from PDFs, or use OCR software to recognize text from images. However, Text Lens is a convenient and easy-to-use feature that is built right into your Mac, making it a great option for busy professionals.
In terms of optical character recognition (OCR) technology and productivity software, Text Lens is a great example of how these tools can be used to streamline workflows and boost efficiency. By using Text Lens in combination with other tools, such as note-taking apps or project management software, you can take your productivity to the next level.

