OCR
How to extract text from an image on iPhone
To extract text from an image, open a clear photo or scan in DocFila, run OCR, and review the recognized text before copying it. OCR helps you reuse printed words; it does not guarantee that names, numbers or formatting are correct.
Step-by-step
- Open the image or scan it with DocFila.
- Run OCR to detect printed or typed text.
- Compare the recognized text with the image, especially names, totals and dates.
- Copy the corrected text or choose the export format you need, then reopen the result to check it.
Copyable text and a searchable PDF are different outputs
Copying OCR text gives you words to paste into another document. A searchable PDF also needs a text layer attached to the page image. If that is your goal, choose the relevant PDF export and search the saved file for a word you can see on the page.
A practical receipt example
Suppose your receipt shows a total of 18.90 and a date of 2026-09-08. After OCR, compare both values character by character with the image. Check whether 0 became O, 1 became I, or a decimal separator changed. This is an illustrative check, not a measured accuracy result.
Improve an incomplete result
Retake a blurred image, straighten the page, remove glare and keep all text inside the crop. Small print, handwriting, unusual typefaces and mixed languages can need manual correction. Keep the original image so you can verify the transcription.
Why DocFila helps
DocFila keeps the workflow connected after the first action. You can scan, edit, convert, sign, protect, organize, and share the same file without moving between separate apps.
What to do next
Questions about this workflow
Does OCR preserve a table's layout?
Text recognition and layout reconstruction are different tasks. Check columns, reading order and line breaks before pasting a table into another document.
Why can I not search my exported PDF?
A PDF can contain only page images. Verify that the selected export includes recognized text; test the saved file in a PDF reader rather than relying on the recognition preview.
Is every OCR or AI action free?
Availability and usage limits depend on the feature and current plan. Check DocFila pricing and the in-app requirement before processing a large batch.
Related DocFila tools
Keep going with the document workflow that matches this page. Open the tool you need, then finish the file in DocFila.