Translation
Translate what you type, then copy it or paste it where you’re typing.
Keybumps
Overview
Understand text in another language and answer in it, without switching apps. Open the Translate tab of Quick Search, then type or paste: it translates as you type. Text in your language goes to your other language, and anything else comes back to yours.
Press Return to save the translation, or ⌘Return to save it and paste it into the app you were using. With the field empty, the tab lists your last 50 saved translations to copy, paste, or hear read aloud. Translation needs macOS 15 or later and ships turned off: turn it on in Settings › Plugins.
- Shortcut
- Not set by default
- Tab in Quick Search
- Translate once you turn it on; hold ⌘ to see its key
- macOS permissions
- None neededOptional: Accessibility
How to use it
- Turn it on in Settings › Plugins. It needs macOS 15 or later.
- Open the Translate tab in Quick Search (hold ⌘ to see its key) and type or paste your text.
- Press Return to save the translation, or ⌘Return to save it and paste it where you were typing.↩
Key features
- Translates what you type or paste a moment after you stop typing
- Text in your language goes to your other language, and anything else comes back to yours
- Choose My language and Other language from 20 languages in Settings › Translation
- ⌘T swaps the two languages for the text in the field, and clicking the target language picks another
- Return saves the translation and clears the field; ⌘Return saves it, pastes it into the app you were using, and puts your clipboard back
- Your last 50 saved translations, listed while the field is empty: Return or ⌘C copies one without adding it to Clipboard History, its Paste button pastes it, and Delete (⌫) removes it after asking
- A speaker button, or Space, reads a saved translation aloud in a voice for its language
- If a language isn’t downloaded yet, a button opens Language & Region in System Settings to download it
- While it’s on, Dictation’s Translate goes between the same two languages
- Optional Open Translate shortcut, unassigned until you set one
Commands
Open its tab in Quick Search, or use its shortcuts from any app. You can change the shortcuts in Settings › Translation.
- Translate tabIn Quick Search, once you turn it on. Hold ⌘ to see its key.
- Open TranslateNot set by default
Permissions and privacy
Translation needs no macOS permissions.
It can use this too, but works without it:
What it keeps on your Mac
For the last 50 translations you save with Return or ⌘Return, the text you translated and its translation are kept on this Mac. Clear Recent Translations in Settings › Translation removes them; turning Translation off keeps them.
Text is translated on this Mac, with the languages you download in System Settings.
Questions
Why can’t I find it?
It ships turned off and needs macOS 15 or later. Turn it on in Settings › Plugins.
Which language does it translate into?
Text in your language goes to your other language, and text in any other language comes back to yours. Choose both in Settings › Translation. For the text in the field, ⌘T swaps them, and clicking the target language picks another.
What if a language isn’t downloaded?
The tab says so, with a button that opens Language & Region in System Settings, where you can download it.
Can I find a translation again later?
Yes, if you saved it with Return or ⌘Return. With the field empty, the Translate tab lists your last 50 saved translations to copy, paste, or hear read aloud.
Does Dictation use the same languages?
Yes. While Translation is on, Dictation’s Translate goes between your two languages. Turn Translation off and it goes back to English and Japanese.
Get Translation with Keybumps.
Apple silicon · macOS 15 or later