Apple: It’s that easy to copy text from the real world with the iPhone

Technique tip
Copy & Paste in real life: It’s so easy to copy text from the real world with the iPhone

We have long been used to being able to copy, save or forward any text at any time. And in real life, too, it’s now easier than most people think.

Whether it’s an e-mail address, account details or an article you’ve read: there are many examples in everyday life where you want to get text from the real world onto your smartphone quickly. You either type it out or give it up immediately because of the length. iPhone users can also make it easier for themselves – and simply paste the text directly on the device.

Since the update to iOS 15, the iPhone – just like iPad and Mac – has mastered this trick without any further requirements. All you need is a sharp photo. And you can transfer the text without any problems. You can find out how to do it on Android smartphones at the end of the text.

iPhone: How to copy any text from the real world

The function is hidden in the photo app or simply in the preview of an image, as you can open it from the camera app. When iPhone thinks it recognizes text in an image, a small square with three lines appears in the lower-right corner. This works for both photos and screenshots. If you tap on the box icon, the software automatically highlights all areas of the image where text has been detected. Now, like any other text view, you can tap on it, mark it and use the copy function to transfer it to any other app. It doesn’t matter whether individual words or the entire text are selected.

Text recognition works particularly well when it comes to block letters in a sharp photo. If the writing is scrawled or difficult to see in the photo, transmission errors will often occur. However, if the writing is clearly recognizable, copying works excellently. When in doubt, it is worth taking a second photo.

A feature added in iOS 16 makes it even more useful. If the iPhone recognizes the font as a language other than the system language, the iPhone automatically offers to translate it. In travel countries where you don’t speak the language or even the script, signs or menus can be made at least roughly understandable quickly and easily.

Better solution for long texts

If you want to scan longer texts or whole pages, Apple’s smartphone offers a better solution: the camera app can be used specifically for scanning documents. To do this, open the “Files” app and first tap on “Browse” and then on the three dots in the top right. There you will find the option to scan documents. Now all you have to do is mark and confirm the corners of the sheet using the dots. The iPhone then not only saves the text, the camera also automatically compensates for any distortions caused by the perspective.

QR codes without photo

If you just want to open a QR code, it’s even easier. Open the camera and point it at the code. Within a very short time, the iPhone shows a marker to which URL the code refers. Now all you have to do is tap on it and the page will open. A photo is not necessary for this.

This is how it works on Android smartphones

Unfortunately, if you use a smartphone with Google’s Android software, it’s not always as easy as with the iPhone. Because although Google’s own photos app can do the trick out of the box, it’s unfortunately not set as the default app on every smartphone with Android, and some don’t even have it installed.

If you use Google’s photo app, it works very easily. The “Lense” symbol is located at the top right above the photo. If you tap on it, text recognized automatically on the image can be recognized, just like on the iPhone. The Lense function can do even more. It can also automatically recognize countless objects, plants, animals and even buildings and people. The translation function is also built directly into the app.