Does reading text need the internet?

No. The Read text in photos option says it works offline.

Can I search a screenshot by what it says?

Yes. Once the text has been read, search the words with Text in photos selected under Match by.

Smart Features Intermediate 5 min read Updated Oct 23, 2026 Pluto Photos 2.5.2

How to Search for Text Inside Photos, Signs and Screenshots

Short answer

In Contextual Search open Scan Options, click Read text in photos and wait. Then search a phrase with Text in photos selected under Match by. Reading works offline.

Requires Pluto Photos Pro (one-time $29, no subscription). The free download includes a 30-day trial of every Pro feature.

#1. Open Scan Options in Contextual Search

Open Discover, then Contextual Search, and expand Scan Options at the bottom. Next to Read text in photos it says: Find photos by the words and numbers in them, like receipts, signs and screenshots. Run it once and new photos are read automatically. Works offline.

Scan Options in Contextual Search, with photo descriptions and a Read text in photos button — Read text in photos, under Scan Options.

#2. Click Read text

Click Read text in 99 photos (the number is your library). A progress area says it's getting the text reader ready, and the first photo takes the longest. Cancel stops it.

The text reader running, showing a status that it is starting the text reader, with a Cancel button — The first photo takes the longest.

#3. Search for words in a photo

Under Match by, keep Text in photos selected, type words that appear in a photo, such as harbour street, and click Search. The photo with that sign matches, and the result shows a text on photo label and the text that was read: "No 24 HARBOUR STREET".

A search for harbour street with only Text in photos selected, matching a yellow house with a No. 24 Harbour Street sign and showing the text that was read — The words on the sign are searchable.

#4. If nothing matches

The app says No photos match closely enough and suggests trying different words. Text matching looks for the words that are in the photo, so use words you can read on it, not a description of the scene. Use Context and Descriptions to describe the scene, and Text in photos for the words in it.

#Tips

You only need to run it once. After the first read, new photos are read automatically.
Text reading happens on your computer and works offline.
It's good for receipts, ticket stubs, whiteboards, shop signs, documents and screenshots.
Be careful when you share photos with readable text, such as addresses. See how to hide faces, plates and addresses.

#Questions

Does reading text need the internet?: No. The Read text in photos option says it works offline.
Can I search a screenshot by what it says?: Yes. Once the text has been read, search the words with Text in photos selected under Match by.

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