SnapCopy — OCR Screen Text Capture for Mac
Select any text visible on your screen and extract it instantly with on-device OCR. SnapCopy runs 100% locally — no cloud processing, no data leaving your Mac.
What it does
SnapCopy uses on-device optical character recognition (OCR) to extract text from any visible area of your screen — images, videos, PDFs, UI elements, or even locked-down apps that block normal text selection. Once extracted, SnapCopy offers context-aware actions like copying, translating, opening URLs, or sending to your clipboard manager.
Currently in development (90% complete).
Key features
- Select any screen region and extract text with on-device OCR
- Context-aware actions: copy, translate, open URL, search
- 100% on-device processing — text recognition runs on Apple Silicon Neural Engine
- Works with images, videos, locked-down apps, and PDFs
- Integrates with Clipset for clipboard history
- Zero data leaves your machine — no cloud API calls
Common workflows
- Copy text from images: Extract text from screenshots, mockups, or photos
- Grab error messages: Copy error text from modal dialogs that block text selection
- Extract from videos: Grab on-screen text from tutorial videos or presentations
- Translate on the fly: Select foreign language text and get an instant translation
Privacy and local-first design
SnapCopy uses Apple's native Vision framework for on-device OCR. Text recognition runs entirely on your Mac's Neural Engine. No images, no text, and no metadata ever leave your device. No cloud, no analytics, no accounts.
FAQ
When will SnapCopy be available?
SnapCopy is currently in late-stage development (90% complete). Sign up for updates on the SnapCopy site.
Does it work with non-English text?
Yes. SnapCopy supports multiple languages through Apple's on-device Vision framework.
What macOS version is required?
macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later, with Apple Silicon recommended for best OCR performance.