Using Live Text Quick Actions in the Safari Web Browser

Yes, the Live Text feature in the Safari web browser can automatically recognize phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses embedded inside photos and offer convenient quick action menus. This article provides a straightforward guide on how Live Text interacts with these specific types of information in Safari, the exact quick actions available to users, and how to trigger these menus on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

How Live Text Works in Safari

Live Text uses on-device intelligence to scan images found on websites within Safari. Instead of forcing you to manually type out information you see in a graphic, flyer, or screenshot, Safari treats the text inside the image just like standard text on a webpage. When it detects specific data types like contact information or locations, it makes them interactive.

Quick Actions by Data Type

When Live Text identifies specific data inside a Safari image, interacting with that text opens a context-sensitive menu—known as Data Detectors—offering relevant shortcuts.

Phone Numbers

When you select a phone number inside an image, the quick action menu allows you to:

  • Place a cellular voice call directly to the number.
  • Start a FaceTime video or audio call.
  • Send an iMessage or SMS text message.
  • Add the number to a new or existing entry in your Contacts app.
  • Copy the phone number to your clipboard.

Email Addresses

When an email address is recognized within a photo, the quick action menu provides options to:

  • Compose a new email to that address using the default Mail app.
  • Send a message via iMessage.
  • FaceTime the user associated with the email.
  • Add the email to your Contacts.
  • Copy the email address.

Physical Addresses

When Live Text detects a street address or recognizable landmark in a photo, the quick action menu lets you:

  • Open the location directly in Apple Maps.
  • Get immediate driving, walking, or transit directions to the address.
  • Add the address to a contact card.
  • Copy the address text.
  • Preview a mini-map of the location directly within the pop-up menu (on macOS and iPadOS).

How to Trigger the Quick Action Menus

On iPhone and iPad

  1. Open Safari and navigate to a webpage with an image containing text.
  2. Tap and hold your finger directly on the phone number, email, or address inside the photo. Alternatively, tap the image once and select the Live Text icon (a square frame with three lines of text) in the bottom-right corner.
  3. With the Live Text icon active, phone numbers, emails, and addresses will automatically be underlined.
  4. Tap the underlined text to instantly bring up the quick action menu.

On Mac

  1. Open Safari and move your cursor over the text inside an image.
  2. Your cursor will automatically change into the text-selection tool (the I-beam).
  3. Hover directly over the phone number, email address, or physical address. A dashed box will appear around the information with a small downward-facing arrow on the right side.
  4. Click the downward-facing arrow (or right-click the highlighted box) to open the quick action menu.

System Requirements

To use Live Text and its quick action menus in Safari, your device must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • iPhone: iOS 15 or later, with an A12 Bionic chip or newer (iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and later).
  • iPad: iPadOS 15 or later, with an A12 Bionic chip or newer.
  • Mac: macOS Monterey or later. (Note: Originally limited to Apple Silicon Macs, Apple later enabled Live Text for Intel-based Macs as well).