FAQ
Short answers to the questions people ask most. Each one links to the page with the full detail.
Does it work offline?
Yes, if you use an engine that runs on your Mac: System (On-Device) (needs macOS 15 or later), Ollama, or LM Studio. Every other engine sends your text to a service on the internet, so it needs a connection. See Local and offline models.
Do I need an API key?
No. Four engines need no key at all: System (On-Device), Google Translate (Free), Ollama and LM Studio. You only need a key for the cloud engines you choose to add. See Translation engines.
What is an API key, anyway?
It is a password a cloud service gives you so it can bill your own account for what you use. You paste it into TransOne once. See Translation engines.
Does it have a Dock icon or a main window?
No, by design. TransOne lives in the menu bar, the strip of icons at the top right of your screen. There is no window to find or close; a shortcut brings up the translation window over whatever you are doing.
Where are my API keys stored?
In the macOS Keychain, the encrypted store built into macOS. They are never kept in a plain file, and only ever sent to the service they belong to. See Privacy and your data.
Do you see my translations?
No. Your text goes straight from your Mac to the engine you chose, with no server of ours in the middle, and nothing is collected. See Privacy and your data.
Is my history uploaded anywhere?
No. Your history and favorites are stored only on your Mac. See History and favorites.
Why does it want the Accessibility permission?
So it can read the text you have selected in another app, for Selection Translation, Silent Selection Translation, Speak Selection and Polish Selection. Features like Clipboard Translation and PopClip need no permission. See Permissions.
Why does the screenshot feature ask me to restart the app?
The macOS Screen Recording permission only takes effect after TransOne is quit and reopened. The guide card has a Quit & Reopen button for this. See Permissions and Troubleshooting.
Can I use it with ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini?
Yes. OpenAI-Compatible (which covers ChatGPT and services that speak the same format), Claude and Gemini are all built-in AI engines. You bring your own key for each. See Translation engines.
Can I run a model on my own Mac?
Yes, with Ollama or LM Studio. Both run AI models locally, offline, with no key. See Local and offline models.
My translation service is not listed. Can I still use it?
Yes, if it answers over HTTP. Add it with the Custom translation API, where you describe how to call it and where its answer sits in the response.
Can I use several engines at once and compare?
Yes. Turn on as many engines as you like in Settings ▸ Translation Services. Each translates the same text, and the results appear together so you can compare them. See Translation engines.
Does it support Traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean interfaces?
Yes. The app's own interface comes in five languages: English, 简体中文, 繁體中文, 日本語 and 한국어. It follows your system language, and you can switch it in Settings ▸ General.
What macOS do I need?
macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later. For Apple's on-device translation you need macOS 15 or later; on macOS 14 that one engine is unavailable and everything else works.
How do I move everything to a new Mac?
Export a backup on the old Mac and import it on the new one. The backup can carry your settings, engines, keys, history and favorites. See Backup, reset and keys.
How do I get a refund?
Purchases go through the Mac App Store, so refunds are requested from Apple, not from us. Ask through Apple's own refund process for App Store purchases.