Guide

How to search screenshots on iPhone

Searching screenshots on iPhone works best when the library knows more than the filename. Screenbase combines your annotations with optional on-device OCR so screenshot text search is practical.

Download on the App Store

What you can search

Free search covers annotations, tags, collection names, and available metadata. Pro adds OCR so words inside the image are indexed locally. Together they cover both “what I wrote” and “what I saw.”

Tips that improve hit rate

Searchable screenshots are a system: light organization up front, strong retrieval later.

  1. Write short, specific notes when you save something (“annual plan under monthly”).
  2. Prefer distinctive phrases you might type later.
  3. Keep collection names plain language (“UI inspiration,” not internal codes).
  4. Use OCR search for receipts, error messages, and UI copy you did not annotate.