Hey all,
I'm running the latest version of MacOs, and I cannot get VOCR 2.0.2 to OCR anything on the screen.
I get the sound when I perform the command, but I never get the finished prompt, and I don't have anything to navigate.
Has anyone else seen this, and does anyone know of a work-around?
By Jahmal, 25 January, 2025
Forum
macOS and Mac Apps
Comments
Screen Curtain
You may have already checked this, but do you have Screen Curtain turned on? I believe it must be turned off for VOCR to work correctly.
Re: Screen curtain
That's actually the first thing I checked, because I've been guilty of having it on before. When I confirmed it was off, I also went and checked all of the permissions in system preferences, and they were all in order as well.
Sounds like you've not got…
Sounds like you've not got all the permissions set in system settings. I don't know what they are off the top of my head.
@Oliver
I did double check all of the permissions. It was working until I did the latest update. I"m not running betas, btw.
Check your version
I'm running VOCR v2.2.0.42. Your version sounds out of date.
And let's be clear about what's happening. With this browser window open, for example, you press Command+Control+Shift+W, and you hear only a couple of happy sound effects and nothing else?
Because I hear the happy sound effect, and then VoiceOver announces, "finished scanning Google Chrome." After that, I can read this web page with Command+Control+up and down arrow. And when I press escape, I hear VoiceOver announce, "exit VOCR navigation."
Up to date
Hey there, we are running the same version. Correct. I know what is supposed to happen, but when I press the command, I get one sound effect, then nothing else ever happens. VOCR has all permissions, and screen curtain isn't on either.
Might be time ...
Time to reinstall me thinks.
Reinstall
I deleted the app from my applications folder, and re-downloaded it and put it back. It never reasked me for permissions. I know some mac apps have other files in other places, does VOCR? If so, where do I find them so I can completely uninstall?
App Cleaner
Download this program from FreeMacSoft.net, It is freeware, and it is simply amazing. Once you set it up, which takes like maybe a few minutes, whenever you delete an app, a dialogue will pop up, asking you to delete all supporting files related to that application. Really, it should be part of macOS, it is really that good.
Reinstalled
I used app cleaner, and re-installed it. I'm still having the same problem.
Any other third-party software?
What else have you installed on your Mac, that is outside of the "Apple standard"?
Third-party apps
Just Parallels, loopback, and audiohighjack. Nothing that would mess with the functionality of VOCR. I also haven't installed anything new, or changed any settings before or after the update of MacOs.
VOCR
It could just be that VOCR requires an update then. Not sure what else to tell you. 🤷🏽♂️
I'm assuming you've done a…
I'm assuming you've done a restart already, which if you haven't definitely go do that. Then try to get a second partition of Mac-o-S by splitting your disk and installing onto that. Try vocr there and see if it works. If it does, we know that it's a machine-specific thing. not inherent to the update. I wish I could be more helpful, but unfortunately I'm still on macOS 14 since I don't see any compelling features
Suggestions
Hey there, I have done a restart. I'm using Apple silicon, where can I download the MacOS installation file to install it on the second partition?
Installing macOS on a second volume
To install macOS on a second volume, you can either use macOS Recovery and choose the newly created volume during installation, or download the installer from [Apple's website.](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102662)
HTH
Problem solved
Hey all, between everyone's ideas, I fixed the problem.
If you update your mac and experience VOCR not working, uninstall it, restart your mac, re-install it.
Do not open it right away. Go into system settings, and turn off all previously accepted permissions, and turn them back on.
That should fix the problem.
When uninstalling, make sure to use the app cleaner app to delete all of the other files.
I'll create a more detailed and professional looking guide and post as a separate post once I've had some sleep, but I figured I'd put this in the comments for now.
Nice One!
I was going to suggest resetting the TCC database, but looks like you've nailed it. Good-oh!
Rebooting
Let this be a lesson for everyone who believes you never need to reboot a Mac. Sometimes, you just gotta ... 😉
+1 for rebooting
I just ran into an almost identical problem. Control+Shift+Command+V gave me the scanning noise, then silence. This was in preview. So I switched to Chrome, thinking it ought to be able to OCR plain text. But I didn't even get the happy scanning sound.
Rebooting solved the issue. All is well in my VOCR world again. I didn't even need to unleash my three-meter tall robotic guide spider.
Wait, wasn't it six meters…
Wait, wasn't it six meters tall last time? What happened to it? Anyway, Yeah, rebooting is Something we probably should do more. Like I've gone through hours of troubleshooting just because I didn't want to wait an extra five minutes for my Mac to reboot and log in and whatever, only to realize. Okay, let's just give it a reboot and if this fixes the problem, I'm gonna be pissed. But also happy because my problem is gone. And wouldn't you know it? 80% of the time the problem is gone.
Re: Robotic spiders
Adjustable legs ... 😉
On that note, I'm glad you got it figured out Paul.