Convert Currency with Live Text in iOS 16

Apple’s iOS 16 updates the Live Text feature with built-in machine detection for units of measurement, time zones, and foreign currencies. By using on-device optical character recognition (OCR) paired with system data, your iPhone can instantly recognize prices printed on physical items, displayed on screens, or captured in photos, allowing you to convert them directly into your local currency without opening a dedicated calculator or third-party app.

How the Feature Works

Live Text scans text frames in real time or within still images to identify numerical values accompanied by currency symbols (such as $, €, £, or ¥) or standard currency codes (such as USD, EUR, or JPY).

Once a currency is detected, iOS compares the value against current exchange rates pulled via your internet connection and cross-references your iPhone’s regional settings to determine your home currency. If you are offline, iOS uses the last cached exchange rates stored on the device.

Converting Currency Using the Camera App

  1. Open the Camera app on your iPhone.
  2. Frame the price tag, menu, or sign containing the foreign currency so it is clearly visible.
  3. Tap the Live Text icon (a small box with text lines) that appears in the bottom-right corner of the viewfinder.
  4. Once the frame freezes, tap the highlighted price, or tap the conversion button that appears in the bottom-left corner.
  5. A pop-up badge will display the converted value in your local currency. Tapping the badge provides additional options to copy the converted amount.

Converting Currency in Photos, Screenshots, and Safari

  1. Open the photo, screenshot, or webpage containing the price in the Photos app or Safari.
  2. Tap the Live Text icon in the bottom-right corner of the display.
  3. Tap the price or the currency icon that appears at the bottom-left of the screen.
  4. The converted value appears immediately in a pop-up banner on top of the image.

System Requirements and Settings

To use this feature, your iPhone must have an A12 Bionic chip or later (iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and newer models). Live Text must also be enabled by going to Settings > General > Language & Region and toggling on Live Text. The converted output is determined by the region set in this same menu, ensuring conversions always display in the currency most relevant to your home location.