Release notes

OwlOCR changelog

A history of the customer-facing improvements that shaped OwlOCR. Recent releases include detailed notes; older entries collect the major milestones from the project archive.

v7.7.1
May 31, 2026

OCR AI performance controls

Local OCR AI can now be tuned for the balance of memory use, speed, and recognition quality that fits your Mac.

  • Added smaller Q3_K_S and Q2_K model variants alongside the balanced Q4_K_M default.
  • Added an Advanced options section for llama-server context size, GPU layers, CPU threads, batch sizing, and Flash Attention.
  • Added memory mapping and RAM locking controls for local runtime tuning.
  • Kept the app and command line OCR paths aligned with the selected model variant.
v7.7.0
May 31, 2026

Cleaner OCR, better control

Long-running OCR work is easier to follow and easier to stop, with a new set of text cleanup tools for the result.

  • PDF text extraction preserves more accurate document text when it is available.
  • OCR AI streams completed pages into your document while it works.
  • Stopping OCR AI is faster and keeps the local runtime ready for your next request.
  • OCR All resumes unfinished pages instead of repeating completed work.
  • A new Fixes section can join wrapped lines, repair split words, normalize punctuation spacing, and collapse repeated blank lines.
v7.6.0
May 26, 2026

Purchase and CLI reliability

This release makes Pro access easier to understand and command line workflows more dependable.

  • Mac App Store subscriptions are checked against current entitlements more accurately.
  • The redesigned Pro panel makes plan selection, checkout, and restoring purchases clearer.
  • The command line tool handles relative image and PDF paths more reliably.
  • Permission and file-format errors from the command line tool are easier to diagnose.
v7.5.0
May 23, 2026

OCR AI workflow fixes

OCR AI gained a smoother command line path and more predictable ordering for document batches.

  • Use `--ocr-ai --markdown` to write Markdown output from Terminal.
  • Numbered scans are loaded in natural filename order.
  • Finder Quick Actions and packaged Mac App Store builds received reliability fixes.
v7.4.0
May 13, 2026

Electron rewrite support fixes

A maintenance release tightened the new app after the OwlOCR 7 rewrite and refreshed its dependencies.

  • Fixed support regressions introduced during the Electron migration.
  • Updated packaged dependencies for the modern app.
v7.3.0
May 11, 2026

Local OCR AI

OwlOCR 7 added an optional second OCR engine for difficult pages while keeping document processing on your Mac.

  • OCR AI can handle messy screenshots, low-quality scans, dense documents, and unusual layouts.
  • Apple Vision remains the fast default for text boxes, highlights, and searchable PDF export.
  • Model and runtime downloads are managed from Settings.
  • The local OCR AI runtime is warmed up ahead of use for a faster first request.
v7.2.0
May 8, 2026

Pro purchase restoration and CLI

The modern app gained a supported automation path and more dependable Mac App Store purchase restoration.

  • Added the OwlOCR command line tool for OCR automation.
  • Moved Mac App Store purchases to StoreKit 2 entitlement checks.
  • Fixed the OwlOCR Pro purchase restore flow.
v7.1.0
May 7, 2026

A clearer upgrade path

The classic OwlOCR app became free to use while the new app added a clearer path for restoring and managing Pro access.

  • Added a restore prompt for existing customers.
  • Restored and refined the Pro settings pane.
  • Updated onboarding copy for customers moving from the classic app.
v7.0.0
April 30, 2026

A new foundation

OwlOCR was rebuilt as an Electron app with focused native Swift helpers for the Mac-specific work.

  • Rebuilt the main workspace, settings, menu bar workflow, and document state in the new app.
  • Kept native Apple Vision OCR, PDF rendering and export, screen capture, and Continuity import.
  • Preserved the three Finder Quick Actions: Extract Text, Create Searchable PDF, and Create Text File.
From the archive

Earlier milestones

The project started in 2020. These highlights are distilled from the historical commit record, with smaller fixes folded into the releases they improved.

2023 - early 2026

Refining the classic app

  • Added automatic OCR when opening a document and an option to open PDFs after screen capture.
  • Added OCR algorithm revision selection as Apple expanded Vision language support.
  • Added more line spacing and minimum text size controls.
  • Modernized launch-at-login behavior and expanded the available OCR languages.
2022

OwlOCR 5 and a major performance pass

  • Shipped OwlOCR 5 with fixes for file access and QR code scanning.
  • Refactored concurrency, loading, and document models to improve responsiveness.
  • Reduced PDF memory use and added parallel file loading.
  • Stabilized the Finder extensions after the broader refactor.
2021

Finder workflows and text cleanup

  • Added custom OCR words, post-processing rules, and smart quote handling.
  • Introduced Finder Quick Actions for clipboard text, text files, and searchable PDFs.
  • Added onboarding, page controls, separate PDF export, and adjustable text size.
  • Shared settings between the main app and Finder extensions.
2020

From Textify to OwlOCR

  • Started as Textify in January and became OwlOCR in February.
  • Added rotated PDF support, iPhone import, configurable screenshot shortcuts, and multi-document workflows.
  • Made OCR results editable, added language selection, and accepted files dropped onto the Dock icon.
  • Introduced Quick Export for one-step screen capture to searchable PDF.