The latest update, iOS 26, has just unveiled a remarkable enhancement to the way we interact with screenshots—one that I’ve come to rely on more frequently than I expected. This iteration of iOS introduces a range of visual intelligence capabilities for screenshots, one of which I only stumbled upon recently. It addresses the frustrating issue of plain text URLs that are difficult to open directly.
Have you ever found yourself wanting to click on a URL displayed in plain text but lacking a straightforward way to interact with it? This is a scenario I often face while scrolling through Instagram. The platform restricts hyperlinks in captions or comments, so users typically encounter one of two phrases: "Link in profile" or an inconveniently formatted plain text URL. The latter option, while less common now than in previous years, still pops up from time to time.
Fortunately, iOS 26 offers a user-friendly solution to this problem. By taking a screenshot, you can leverage the new visual intelligence powered by Apple’s AI technology. This smart feature allows your iPhone to detect any URLs present in your screenshot and, conveniently, it will present you with a clickable link at the bottom of your screen.
To make the most of this new functionality, ensure you have an AI-compatible model like the iPhone 17, iPhone 16, or iPhone 15 Pro. When you capture a screenshot, the default behavior in iOS 26 directs you to a full-screen interface where this handy link is readily accessible at the bottom.
However, if you prefer the previous iOS 18 style, where screenshots appear as small thumbnails in the corner, you’ll need to tap that thumbnail first to access the full view and see the clickable link.
Were you aware of this clever feature in iOS 26? How has your experience been with it so far? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
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