# ScreenTranslate **Translate any text on your Mac screen — capture or select.** Screen capture with OCR, or select text and translate directly. On-device by default, with optional cloud engines. [![macOS 15+](https://img.shields.io/badge/macOS-15%2B-blue)](https://www.apple.com/macos/) [![Swift 6](https://img.shields.io/badge/Swift-6-orange)](https://swift.org) [![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-GPL--3.0-blue)](#license)

[Download](https://github.com/hcmhcs/screenTranslate/releases/latest) · [Website](https://screentranslate.filient.ai/?utm_source=github&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=screentranslate) · [Privacy Policy](https://screentranslate.filient.ai/privacy?utm_source=github&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=screentranslate)

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Drag to select		Translation result

--- ## How It Works

### Screen Capture Translation 1. **Press shortcut** — Hit `Cmd + E` (customizable) to enter selection mode 2. **Drag to select** — Draw a rectangle around the text you want to translate 3. **Read translation** — Translation appears in a popup near your selection ### Text Selection Translation 1. **Select text** — Highlight text in any app 2. **Press shortcut** — Hit `Cmd + Option + Z` (customizable) to translate 3. **Read translation** — Translation appears instantly — no OCR needed ### Quick Translate

1. **Press shortcut** — Hit `Cmd + Shift + E` (customizable) to open the mini translation panel 2. **Type text** — Enter the text you want to translate 3. **Press Enter** — Translation appears below. Use `Shift + Enter` for new lines No copy-paste, no browser tabs, no context switching. ## Features - **Free & Open Source** — No subscription, no ads, no hidden costs. Licensed under GPL-3.0 - **Completely Private** — On-device by default. No servers, no tracking, no data collection - **Instant Translation** — One shortcut triggers area selection, OCR, and translation in a single motion - **Text Selection Translation** — Select text in any app and translate directly — no OCR needed. Supports even more languages with cloud engines - **Quick Translate** — Type and translate instantly with a minimal floating panel - **20 Languages** — Auto-detect source language supported. Full list below - **Works Offline** — Download language packs once, translate anywhere without internet - **Optional Cloud Engines (BYOK)** — Already works without any API key. Optionally connect DeepL, Google Cloud, or Azure for more languages - **Auto Copy** — Translation results are copied to clipboard by default (can be disabled in Settings) - **Translation History** — Every translation is saved. Search and copy previous results anytime - **Menu Bar App** — Lightweight, always available, never in the way ### Supported Languages | | | | | |---|---|---|---| | Korean | English | Japanese | Chinese (Simplified) | | Chinese (Traditional) | French | German | Spanish | | Portuguese | Italian | Russian | Arabic | | Dutch | Hindi | Indonesian | Polish | | Thai | Turkish | Ukrainian | Vietnamese | All powered by Apple Translation — on-device and offline capable. Connect your own API key (DeepL, Google, Azure) for additional languages. ## Requirements - macOS 15 Sequoia or later - Apple Silicon or Intel ## Installation ### Download DMG Download the latest version from the [website](https://screentranslate.filient.ai/). ### Homebrew ```bash brew tap hcmhcs/tap brew install --cask screentranslate ``` > We're aiming to get listed on the official Homebrew Cask — if you find this useful, a ⭐ on GitHub would really help! ### Build from Source ```bash git clone https://github.com/hcmhcs/screenTranslate.git cd screenTranslate open ScreenTranslate.xcodeproj ``` Build and run with Xcode 16+. ## Getting Started 1. Launch ScreenTranslate — it appears in your **menu bar** 2. Grant **Screen Recording** permission when prompted (System Settings → Privacy & Security) 3. Grant **Accessibility** permission for text selection translation (System Settings → Privacy & Security) 4. Press `Cmd + E` and drag over any text on screen — or select text and press `Cmd + Option + Z` — or press `Cmd + Shift + E` to type and translate 5. The translation popup appears instantly ### Changing Languages Open Settings from the menu bar icon to: - Set source language (or leave as Auto-detect) - Set target language - Download language packs for offline use - Customize the keyboard shortcut ## Tech Stack | Component | Technology | |-----------|-----------| | UI | SwiftUI + AppKit | | OCR | Apple Vision | | Translation | Apple Translation (on-device), DeepL, Google, Azure | | Data | SwiftData | | Updates | Sparkle | | Architecture | @Observable, MainActor isolation | ## License This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0. See [LICENSE](LICENSE) for details.