FAQ - ViewLingo

🚀 Getting Started

Which languages are supported?

ViewLingo supports languages available in both Apple text recognition (OCR) and Translation on your Mac. Available languages depend on your macOS version.

How do I create a viewfinder?

The quickest way to create a viewfinder:

Instant Creation: Double-tap fn + Control to create a viewfinder at your mouse position instantly
Alternative: You can also use the menu bar icon or app menu to create a viewfinder

The viewfinder will appear as a translucent window that you can move and resize as needed.

How do I close a viewfinder?

You can close a viewfinder in several ways:

Press ESC key
Triple-click anywhere on the viewfinder
Click Close (✕), just outside the viewfinder

What permissions does ViewLingo need?

ViewLingo requires Screen Recording permission to capture the content within your viewfinder. This is a macOS requirement for any app that captures screen content.

Privacy note: Captured images are processed on your Mac. Optional DeepL comparison in 3.0 sends only text you explicitly select and approve, never screenshots.

🌍 Languages & Translation

Which languages are supported?

ViewLingo supports languages available in both Apple text recognition (OCR) and Translation on your Mac. Available languages depend on your macOS version.

How accurate are the translations?

ViewLingo uses Apple's built-in translation engine on your Mac by default. Quality varies with the source and target languages, the scene, text-recognition (OCR) accuracy and the context available. Short dialogue, names and specialist terms can be mistranslated.

In 3.0, you can use an optional DeepL comparison with your own API key. After your explicit consent and translation request, it sends only the original text, context and terms you select. Apple remains the default for regular captures and Live. Comparing results can help you choose, but DeepL is not guaranteed to be better for every passage.

For better results, keep in mind:

Clear, legible text is recognized most reliably
Including a full sentence gives the translator more context
Your source-language list tells ViewLingo which languages to expect

Retry re-translates the current area whenever you like.

Can I translate offline?

Yes, with Apple translation. Regular captures and Live work offline after language packs are downloaded. Optional DeepL comparison in 3.0 requires an internet connection, your own API account and explicit consent.

⚡ Features & Performance

What is Live Translation Mode?

Live Mode automatically retranslates content as it changes on screen, perfect for:

Video subtitles
Live streams
Dynamic web content
Scrolling documents

                        💡 Tip: Frame the text you want to follow, such as a subtitle line or dialogue box. Live updates when that text changes and holds steady when it doesn't.
                    

Does ViewLingo support vertical text (Japanese, Chinese)?

Yes! ViewLingo natively handles vertical text commonly found in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean content. Vertical text is automatically detected and translations render in the correct writing direction.

What happens when the translation is longer than the original text?

ViewLingo uses adaptive font sizing to ensure translated text fits naturally within the original text area. It automatically adjusts font size, tries condensed fonts, and uses multi-line wrapping when needed to maintain readability.

Does ViewLingo slow down my Mac?

Under normal usage, ViewLingo has minimal impact on system performance:

Regular Mode: Very low resource usage, processes only when you request translation
Live Mode: Higher resource usage due to continuous processing

ViewLingo runs on macOS 15.0 or later as a universal app, native on both Apple silicon and Intel Macs.

Can I translate text in any app?

Yes! ViewLingo can translate text from any application or website, including:

Web browsers (Safari, Chrome, Firefox)
PDF readers
Video players
Games
Documents and presentations
Social media apps

The viewfinder captures whatever is visible on your screen, regardless of the source application.

💰 Pricing & Purchase

How much does ViewLingo cost?

See your local price on the App Store.

ViewLingo is a one-time purchase that includes:

Regular capture and Live with Apple translation
Every language your Mac supports, using Apple's free language packs
No account needed for Apple translation
No ViewLingo subscription
Local processing for default Apple translation

Optional DeepL comparison in 3.0 requires your own API account. DeepL usage charges and limits are separate from the app purchase.

Can I share ViewLingo with family members?

Yes! ViewLingo supports Apple's Family Sharing, so you can share your purchase with up to 6 family members at no additional cost. You can also install it on all your personal Macs.

What if I'm not satisfied with ViewLingo?

ViewLingo follows Apple's standard refund policy. If the app doesn't meet your needs, you can request a refund from Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.

🔒 Privacy & Security

Is my data safe with ViewLingo?

Regular captures and Live use Apple locally. The Mac app has no analytics or tracking. In 3.0, DeepL comparison is off by default and requires your API key, consent and an explicit translation request. Review the original, up to five previous same-capture passages and five terms before sending. Screenshots, window titles and full history are never sent. Provider data terms and charges apply; do not send personal or confidential content with Free / Developer.

Read the privacy policy

What about screen recording permission?

Screen Recording permission allows the app to capture only the area you select. Image recognition happens on your Mac. Captured images remain local; optional DeepL comparison sends selected text only. This permission does not give us remote access to your screen.

🛠️ Troubleshooting

Nothing appears when I capture. Is the app broken?

Usually this means the language pack for that language pair isn't installed yet. macOS does the translating, and it needs each pack downloaded once before it can work offline.

ViewLingo detects this and helps you download the missing pack.
To install manually: System Settings › General › Language & Region › Translation Languages, then download the languages you need.
You only need the languages you actually read plus your own — not all of them.
After downloading, return to ViewLingo and capture again. Apple translation then runs fully offline.

ViewLingo isn't recognizing text properly. What can I do?

Try these solutions:

Check text clarity: Ensure the text is clearly visible and not blurry
Adjust viewfinder size: Make sure the entire text is within the viewfinder
Zoom in: Enlarging very small text on screen helps recognition
Check language settings: Ensure the source language is supported

I updated ViewLingo but it's not capturing anymore, even though permission is enabled.

This is a known macOS behavior. When an app is updated, macOS may invalidate its screen recording permission internally, even though System Settings still shows it as "enabled." To fix this:

Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording
Find ViewLingo in the list
Remove it using the − (minus) button
Add it back using the + (plus) button
Restart ViewLingo

                        Why does this happen? macOS tracks each app version with a unique cryptographic hash (CDHash). After an update, the hash changes but the permission entry may still reference the old version. Removing and re-adding the permission refreshes this association.
                    

The app crashes or freezes. How do I fix this?

Restart ViewLingo: Quit and relaunch the app
Check macOS version: Ensure you're running macOS 15.0 or later
Disable Live Mode: If enabled, turn off Live Mode in settings
Restart your Mac: Sometimes a system restart helps
Reinstall: Delete and reinstall from the App Store