Instantly Find Text in Images and Screenshots on Mac: Your Complete Guide
Jun 2, 2025
Let’s face it: finding specific text within images or screenshots on your Mac has always been a challenge. Whether you're trying to recall notes captured as a screenshot during a presentation or extract information from scanned documents, traditional search tools like Spotlight simply don't cut it.
Thankfully, you no longer have to waste precious time manually scrolling through hundreds of images. With Fenn, finding text in images and screenshots becomes effortless.
Why Traditional Mac Search Struggles with Images
Standard macOS search tools typically rely on filenames or manually-added tags. Unfortunately, these methods fall short when you’re trying to recall the exact wording inside an image or screenshot. Spotlight and even more robust tools like Alfred or Raycast typically can't see inside visual content.
This limitation often leads to frustration and many of us spend unnecessary hours manually hunting down specific details.
For a deeper understanding of why traditional Mac search tools might disappoint, check out our previous article about fixing Spotlight issues on Mac.
How Fenn Revolutionizes Text Search in Images
Fenn leverages powerful optical character recognition (OCR) technology. This means it reads and indexes text directly from images and screenshots. Whether your image contains typed documents, handwritten notes, or screenshots from presentations, Fenn rapidly surfaces the exact content you need.
You don't need to worry about remembering filenames or locations. Simply enter the text you're looking for, and Fenn immediately presents you with precise results.
Step-by-Step: Searching Text in Images with Fenn
Open Fenn: Launch the app directly from your Mac’s menu bar or use the quick shortcut.
Enter your query: Type the text snippet you remember from your screenshot or image.
Review Results Instantly: Fenn shows the relevant images and highlights exactly where your text appears.
It’s simple, intuitive, and significantly faster than any traditional method.
Practical Use-Cases
Fenn’s image-search functionality isn’t just a cool feature. It's incredibly practical. Here are some everyday scenarios:
Quickly retrieving a photo of your wifi password.
Extracting important details from photographed notes or whiteboards.
Locating vital information captured in screenshots of web pages or emails.
Time to Make Your Mac Search Smarter
Forget tedious manual searching and inefficient workarounds. With Fenn, text hidden within images and screenshots is now effortlessly accessible.
Ready to experience the difference? Try Fenn today and streamline your workflow by finding exactly what you need in seconds, not hours.