User profile for user: machineage
machineage Author
User level: Level 1
39 points

Disable Data Detectors in Preview

This is driving me nuts!! Whenever I go to highlight and select a number, or part of a number in Preview, I'm unable to do so because a box and arrow are presented, with an option to then create a contact if I click on the arrow. I just want to manually select the number, but am unable to do so because of this ridiculously annoying feature! Can anyone tell me how to permanently disable this? Image enclosed.


I understand this is 'data detectors' but I have been unable to find any way to disable it. I have turned off 'Lookup and data detectors' in Settings > Trackpad, no change. I have also disabled 'Show Siri suggestions' in Contacts > Settings > General, no change.


Thanks.



MacBook Air 13″, macOS 13.1

Posted on Feb 6, 2023 11:17 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: VikingOSX
VikingOSX
User level: Level 10
122,106 points

Posted on Feb 7, 2023 01:32 AM

What I have observed is these data detectors result when a Word document is saved or printed to PDF by a recent release of MS Word (e.g. 16.69.1). Ordinarily, an application capable of disabling data detectors would have an Edit menu > Substitutions > Data Detectors menu entry, but because Preview is not a PDF Editor, it doesn't have that Substitutions menu item.


The easiest, perhaps only means to highlight a data detector field as you have shown is by two-finger tap/control-click the number which selects it, and then press ESC to dismiss the secondary menu. Then you are free to highlight or remove the highlight feature from this detector field.

View in context

Similar questions

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: VikingOSX
VikingOSX
User level: Level 10
122,106 points

Feb 7, 2023 01:32 AM in response to machineage

What I have observed is these data detectors result when a Word document is saved or printed to PDF by a recent release of MS Word (e.g. 16.69.1). Ordinarily, an application capable of disabling data detectors would have an Edit menu > Substitutions > Data Detectors menu entry, but because Preview is not a PDF Editor, it doesn't have that Substitutions menu item.


The easiest, perhaps only means to highlight a data detector field as you have shown is by two-finger tap/control-click the number which selects it, and then press ESC to dismiss the secondary menu. Then you are free to highlight or remove the highlight feature from this detector field.

Reply

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Disable Data Detectors in Preview

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up