Your First Text Capture

Last updated: January 16, 2026 • 2 min read

Ready to extract text from an image, video, or protected website? Here is how to do it in seconds.

Step 1: The Activation Shortcut

Press Command + Shift + 8 (⌘⇧8) on your keyboard. Your cursor will turn into a crosshair selector.

Step 2: Select the Area

Click and drag your mouse to verify the area of the screen containing the text you want to copy.

  • Release the mouse button to complete the capture.
  • Press Esc at any time to cancel the selection.

Step 3: Paste!

Within a split second, TextClipper will play a subtle sound to indicate success. The extracted text is now in your clipboard.

Simply navigate to your document, email, or code editor and press Command + V (⌘V) to paste.

Tips for Best Results

  • Zoom In: If the text is small, try zooming in on the screen before capturing (⌘+).
  • Good Context: Ensure the background behind the text isn't too cluttered for cleaner extraction.