On most supported Galaxy phones, the fastest way to copy text from a photo is to open the image in Gallery, tap the yellow T icon, select the highlighted text, and paste it into another app. The icon usually appears only when the phone detects text. Where it does not appear, Bixby Vision, AI Select, or the Camera Scan text option may offer another route, but each depends on your model, One UI version, region, and carrier.
Copy text from a saved photo in Gallery
This is the simplest workflow and the one Samsung documents most directly. Samsung’s Gulf support page for extracting text from photos, last updated 23 June 2026, describes the steps below.
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- Open Gallery and select the photo.
- Tap the yellow T text extraction icon at the lower right. It appears only when text is detected, so its absence is a signal about the image, not necessarily a fault.
- Wait for the recognized text to be highlighted.
- Select the part you need, or copy all of it.
- Paste the text into the destination app.
Samsung notes that exact screens and feature support can differ by device and software version. If you do not see the icon at all, check your One UI version before assuming the feature is missing.
When nothing is detected or the result is incomplete
Samsung attributes incomplete recognition to the image itself. Its troubleshooting guidance points to the following causes and fixes:
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- Low resolution: retake or use a sharper copy of the image.
- Poor lighting: shadows and glare can hide characters. Adjust brightness or contrast and try again.
- Unusual fonts or languages: stylised lettering may not be recognized reliably.
- Overlapping elements: text placed over images, borders, or other graphics may be split or skipped.
- Complex layouts: select a smaller text area manually rather than relying on automatic detection of the whole page.
Samsung does not publish an accuracy rate for this feature, so treat the output as something to proofread, particularly for numbers, names, and punctuation.
Other ways to reach text on a Galaxy phone
Gallery is not the only entry point. Bixby Vision, AI Select, and the Camera Scan text option cover different source material, and the table below compares them using the conditions Samsung states for each.
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- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
| Route | Where the text comes from | How to open it | Internet connection | Availability Samsung describes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallery yellow T icon | A saved photo | Open the photo in Gallery and tap the yellow T icon | Not stated in Samsung’s Gulf photo instructions | Depends on UI; icon appears when text is detected |
| Bixby Vision Text lens | A live camera view or a saved Gallery image | Camera, then More, then Bixby Vision, then Text lens; for a saved image, tap the Bixby Vision icon in Gallery | Required | Varies by device, carrier, and software version |
| AI Select | An image, screenshot, or webpage | Launch from the Edge panel, an S Pen Air command, or the screenshot toolbar | Some features require internet access | Compatible devices; varies by region, model, carrier, and software (India guide updated 15 September 2026) |
| Gallery video text | A downloaded video played in the default player | Pause playback and tap the yellow T icon | Not stated | Selected models and software versions only (India guide updated 29 September 2026) |
Bixby Vision for live camera text or saved images
For live text, open Camera, choose More, then select Bixby Vision and the Text lens, and point the camera at the printed text. For a saved image, open it in Gallery and tap the Bixby Vision icon. The first time you use it, Bixby Vision may ask you to accept terms and grant permissions. Because it requires a network connection, expect it to fail offline even though the Gallery route may not.
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AI Select can turn text in an image or screenshot into editable content on compatible devices. Launch it from the Edge panel, an S Pen Air command, or the screenshot toolbar, then:
Rank #3
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
- Open the image, screenshot, or webpage that contains the text.
- Select the text you want.
- Tap Text to extract editable content.
- Choose copy or share.
If the Text option is disabled, Samsung says the selected content is being treated as an image, which means it cannot be converted to editable text.
Camera Scan text as the replacement for the keyboard route
Older One UI guides describe an Extract Text item in the Samsung Keyboard menu. Samsung’s Gulf support notice, last updated 21 April 2026, says that keyboard menu was removed starting with One UI 8.5 and recommends Camera Scan text instead. If your phone is on One UI 8.5 or later, do not follow the keyboard instructions in older articles. Use Camera Scan text, or the Gallery route if the T icon appears.
Rank #4
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
Samsung’s Ireland One UI 5 overview is a useful reminder of how the feature was first framed. It stated: “You can now use the Samsung Keyboard, Internet, Gallery or from screenshots.” That description reflects One UI 5-era scope and does not guarantee the same menus on current software.
Extracting text from downloaded Gallery videos
Samsung’s India support guide, last updated 29 September 2026, describes a video flow on selected models and software versions. Play a downloaded video in your device’s default player, pause on the frame that contains the text, tap the yellow T icon, and then select text and copy it, select all, or share it. This applies to downloaded files, not streaming video, and it is not available on every Galaxy device.
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Choosing the right route
Pick the route based on where the text lives and what your phone shows you:
- Saved photo with the yellow T icon: use Gallery. It is the most direct method.
- Printed text in front of you: use Bixby Vision Text lens, with a network connection.
- Screenshot or webpage needing editable text: use AI Select if your device supports it, noting that some features need internet access.
- Downloaded video frame: use the yellow T icon on a supported model and software version.
- One UI 8.5 or later with no keyboard option: use Camera Scan text.
Check availability before you troubleshoot
Most failures come from assuming a feature exists on your phone. Samsung’s pages consistently warn that availability differs by model, carrier, One UI or software version, and region. The Ireland, United States, India, and Gulf support pages do not share a single compatibility list for the Gallery photo workflow, so confirm the feature on your device’s own support page, or in the Gallery and Camera apps themselves, before concluding it is broken.
Samsung’s pages are the authoritative reference for exact labels, and menu names may change between updates. If a control described here is missing, search your device’s support page for the feature name rather than assuming the instructions are wrong.
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