Frequently asked questions
Everything about how Detexts works, privacy, and setup.
Does it work offline?+
Yes. Once you've downloaded a local model, transcription and Apple / on-device translation run fully offline. Cloud API engines (Claude, OpenAI, Gemini) and the cloud transcription model need a connection.
Do you collect my voice or text?+
No. We never collect your audio, transcriptions, or translations, and we never sell data. Everything stays on your Mac unless you explicitly choose a cloud API engine.
Is my API key safe?+
Yes. If you bring your own key, it's stored in the macOS Keychain and never leaves your device.
What permissions does it need, and why?+
Microphone (to record your voice), plus Accessibility and Input Monitoring (to detect the global shortcut and paste text). All are standard macOS permission prompts.
A permission shows enabled in System Settings but Detexts says it's denied — what do I do?+
macOS sometimes keeps a stale permission state. Reset it: turn the permission off, click the “–” button to remove Detexts from that permission list, then click “+” to add it back and enable it again.
Which languages are supported?+
Transcription is multilingual (Whisper). Translation covers major languages including English, 繁體中文, 简体中文, 日本語, 한국어, and major European languages (German, French, Italian, Spanish, and more).
Do I need an account?+
No. No sign-up, no login — download and go.
Can I use my own API key without extra cost?+
Yes — bring your own key (BYOK). You pay your AI provider directly at their rates; we never add a markup.
Which Macs are supported?+
Apple Silicon (M-series) Macs running macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later.
Can I change the shortcut or gesture?+
Yes. In Settings → Shortcuts you can change the recording key (Fn, Space long-press, Right ⌘, or a custom chord) and the gesture (Hold, Toggle, or Double-tap).
Is it on the App Store?+
No. Detexts is a direct download, notarized by Apple (Developer ID), so it installs and auto-updates outside the App Store.
What's the difference between the local models?+
Whisper (multilingual, incl. CJK) runs via whisper.cpp + Metal — Turbo is the most accurate. NVIDIA Parakeet is the fastest but English-only. Pick based on your languages and how much speed you want.