schappim/macOCR

Get any text on your screen into your clipboard.

What it solves

macOCR allows users to extract text, QR codes, and barcodes from any part of their screen, including non-selectable areas like screenshots, videos, PDFs, and error dialogs, and instantly copies the result to the clipboard.

How it works

It is a command-line tool that uses Apple's Vision framework to perform on-device OCR and barcode scanning. Users can either drag a selection box over the desired area or specify a fixed region using coordinates. It can also process existing image files.

Who it’s for

macOS users who need a fast, offline way to capture text or codes from their screen without relying on external APIs or cloud uploads.

Highlights

  • On-device processing: Uses Apple's Vision framework for offline, private recognition.
  • Multilingual support: Supports various languages depending on the macOS version (up to 30+ on Ventura and later).
  • Barcode & QR scanning: Recognizes a wide array of symbologies (e.g., QR, EAN13, Code128) alongside text.
  • Scriptable: Provides JSON output and fixed-region capture for integration into automation tools like Alfred, Raycast, and macOS Shortcuts.
  • Flexible input: Works with screen captures or existing image files (PNG, JPEG, TIFF, HEIC).

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