How to find a screenshot by the text in it on iPhone
Two ways. Use the built-in Photos search (and Spotlight) when the screenshot is still in your camera roll. Or add screenshots to Backpacks so their text is searchable next to your saved links, with results as you type.
Apple’s iPhone Photos guide says you can search for photos by typing what you are looking for, including text (for example an email address or phone number). Open the Photos app, use Search, and type a word from the screenshot. Spotlight on iPhone can also surface photos when you search. See Search for photos and videos on iPhone (Apple Support).
Add screenshots from Photos. Backpacks reads the text inside each one on your iPhone. Type any word you remember; results appear as you type and match titles, sites, page text, and screenshot text—alongside the links you saved from the Share sheet.
HowTo: find a screenshot in Backpacks
- Install Backpacks. Download it free from the App Store on an iPhone running iOS 26 or later.
- Add screenshots. Add screenshots from Photos into Backpacks. The app reads the text inside each screenshot on your iPhone.
- Type a word you remember. Open search and type any word from the screenshot. Results appear as you type.
- Open the match. Tap the result to open the screenshot, kept next to your saved links in one library.
- Optional: export. Export the whole library as a zip of original images plus library.json when you want a backup.
When Photos search isn’t enough
- Screenshots sit mixed with thousands of photos, so the right one is hard to spot even when search works.
- You want links and screenshots in one place, with the same search box for both.
- You want an export you can take with you (zip + library.json), with no account and no analytics.
FAQ
Can the Photos app search text inside screenshots?
Yes. On recent iOS, Photos search can look for text in photos—Apple’s guide lists text such as an email address or phone number as a search example. Open Photos, use Search, and type the word you remember.
Does Backpacks send screenshot text to a server?
No. Text inside screenshots is read on your iPhone. Backpacks has no account and no analytics.
Can I keep links and screenshots in one place?
Yes. Backpacks keeps links and screenshots in one library. Search matches titles, sites, page text, and screenshot text.
Is Backpacks free?
Yes. Backpacks is free on the App Store for iPhone on iOS 26 or later.
Free on iPhone. On-device text reading. No account.
Download on the App Store