How to Turn Off Live Text on Mac - MacRumors
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How to Turn Off Live Text on Mac

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In macOS Monterey, Apple's Live Text feature can automatically recognize text when it appears in an image in Safari, Photos, Preview, Quick Look, and elsewhere, allowing you to copy or share it. If you find this text auto-detection a distraction, and you might prefer to turn it off. This article explains how.

live text macos monterey feature

How to Turn Off Live Text in macOS

  1. Launch System Preferences from your Mac's Dock, from the Applications folder, or from the Apple menu bar ( -> System Preferences...).
  2. Select the Language & Region preference option.
    sys-prefs

  3. In the General tab, uncheck the box next to Live Text: Select Text in Images.
    sys-prefs

After that's done, you'll no longer see the text recognition symbol or the Live Text contextual menu when interacting with images.

If you're wondering how to disable Live Text on iPhone and iPad, be sure to check our dedicated how-to article.

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