ScreenTranslate

Key Features

• •Instant Area Translation via Cmd+E: Press Cmd+E to enter selection mode, then drag a rectangle over any screen content. ScreenTranslate uses Apple Vision OCR to recognize text and instantly displays the translation in a popup near your selection. This eliminates the need to copy-paste text into a separate app, saving time and reducing context switching.
• •Text Selection Translation: When text is selectable in an app, simply highlight it and trigger translation without screen capture or OCR. This streamlined approach works faster than the area method and supports even more languages through optional cloud engines. It’s ideal for translating text in documents, emails, or web pages directly.
• •On-Device Privacy with Apple Translation: All translation processing happens entirely on your Mac using Apple’s native translation framework. Your text never leaves the device—no servers, no tracking, no data collection. This makes ScreenTranslate a trusted choice for translating sensitive or confidential content without privacy concerns.
• •Full Offline Functionality: After downloading the desired language packs once, ScreenTranslate works completely offline. OCR and translation all run locally, so you can translate text even without an internet connection. This is especially useful while traveling, in areas with limited connectivity, or for users who prefer to keep their workflow entirely offline.
• •Automatic Translation History: Every translation you make is automatically saved to a searchable history accessible from the menu bar. You can review past translations, copy them again, or search for specific terms. This feature helps maintain terminology consistency and is a valuable reference for language learners.
• •Lightweight Menu Bar Integration: ScreenTranslate runs as a minimal menu bar app that uses negligible system resources. It stays out of your way until needed, providing quick access to translation shortcuts, history, and settings. The app remains always available without cluttering your dock or taskbar.
• •Optional Cloud Engine Support: For users who need specialized translation quality or additional languages, ScreenTranslate allows integration with cloud translation services like DeepL, Google Cloud, and Azure. You can provide your own API key to unlock these capabilities while still benefiting from ScreenTranslate’s seamless workflow.

Use Cases

• •Translating text in images or screenshots: A developer encounters a code comment in a screenshot written in Korean. By pressing Cmd+E and dragging over the image area, ScreenTranslate instantly recognizes and translates the text, allowing the developer to understand the comment without leaving the IDE or manually typing the text.
• •Reading foreign language PDFs: A student studying Japanese scans a PDF textbook. Rather than copying text into a translator, they select the text (or use area capture for scanned pages) and get instant translations inline. This keeps them focused on reading and accelerates comprehension.
• •Translating untranslated game dialogue: A gamer playing a Japanese RPG encounters untranslated dialogue in a text box. They press Cmd+E and drag over the dialogue to get an immediate translation popup, enabling them to understand the story without pausing to switch to a translation app.
• •Quick translation of emails or chat messages: A professional receives an email in French. Using Text Selection Translation, they highlight the French text and trigger translation directly in the email client. The translation appears instantly, allowing them to respond quickly without opening a separate browser.
• •Reviewing translation consistency: A translator working on a multilingual document uses Translation History to check previously translated phrases. This ensures terminology consistency across the document without retranslating, saving time and maintaining accuracy.
• •Offline translation during travel: A traveler with limited internet access downloads language packs before departure. While abroad, they can translate restaurant menus, signs, or any on-screen text using ScreenTranslate’s offline OCR and translation capabilities, ensuring they can understand the local language anywhere.

Who is this for?

ScreenTranslate is designed for macOS users (version 15 or later) who need to translate on-screen text quickly and privately. Its primary audience includes multilingual professionals such as translators, content writers, and international business communication specialists who frequently encounter foreign text in their daily work. Developers and researchers working with documentation in various languages will benefit from instant translation without leaving their code editor or research tool. Students learning a foreign language can use it to read textbooks, websites, and course materials more efficiently. Gamers and general users who encounter untranslated content in apps, games, or images will find ScreenTranslate invaluable. The app also appeals to privacy-conscious individuals who avoid cloud-based translation services for sensitive data. Its free, open-source nature makes it accessible to anyone needing a reliable on-screen translation solution on Mac.