With the release of iOS 15, many new features have been added and some handy features flew under the radar. This is the case with Live Text, a new feature for iPhone and iPad available as part of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 respectively. It uses built-in smarts to analyze your photos for text and make them interactive so you can copy, translate, or do anything you can do with digital text on your iPhone or iPad.
How To Enable Live Text On iPad And iPhone
In iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, Live Text is enabled by default. But, in case you disabled it not knowing what it was, here’s how to reactivate this handy feature.
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Tap on ‘Camera’.
Step 3: Go to ‘Live Text’ and enable it.
Live Text can recognize information in photos and online images so you can make calls, send emails, get directions, and more with just a tap. Point your camera at a photo or image that contains text and click the Live Text button.
How To Use Live Text In The Camera App
Live Text is also available in the Camera app and when using the camera with other apps like Notes and Reminders. It requires iPhone XS, iPhone XR, or later with iOS 15 or later. To turn on Live Text for all supported languages, you need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Camera app on your iPhone or iPad.
Step 2: Point the camera at the text you’d like to select.
Step 3: When the device detects text, the Live Text feature will be activated, the text will be surrounded by a yellow box, and a new icon will appear in the lower right corner. Click the icon to ‘grab’ the text.
Step 4: Select the section of text you want to use and tap to either Copy, Select All, Translate or Share depending on what you want to do with the text. To select a specific portion of captured text, long press the text to select it. For phone numbers, tap the number on the screen to initiate a call on your device.
Additionally, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) and later models, iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (all models), iPad mini (5th generation), and iPad (8th generation) with iPadOS 15.1 or later are all compatible with Live Text.
