WordLantern: AI Translator
Translator for the Mac menu bar
WordLantern translates text across your Mac. Select text and tap the shortcut to translate the selection. Point at a word and hold the shortcut to translate only that word. The translation opens in a small popup next to the text.
Free during beta. Requires macOS 14 or later. Apple Intelligence requires macOS 26 and a compatible Mac.
Live preview
Move the pointer onto any word in the window, the title included. The popup opens next to the pointer, as it does in WordLantern. In the app, you hold the shortcut (⌃⌥ by default). On this page, you do not need the shortcut.Tap any word in the window, the title included. The popup opens next to the word, as it does in WordLantern. On your Mac, you point at the word and hold the shortcut (⌃⌥ by default).
Als Gregor Samsa eines Morgens aus unruhigen Träumen erwachte, fand er sich in seinem Bett zu einem ungeheueren Ungeziefer verwandelt. Er lag auf seinem panzerartig harten Rücken und sah, wenn er den Kopf ein wenig hob, seinen gewölbten, braunen, von bogenförmigen Versteifungen geteilten Bauch.
Longtemps, je me suis couché de bonne heure. Parfois, à peine ma bougie éteinte, mes yeux se fermaient si vite que je n’avais pas le temps de me dire : « Je m’endors. »
En un lugar de la Mancha, de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme, no ha mucho tiempo que vivía un hidalgo de los de lanza en astillero, adarga antigua, rocín flaco y galgo corredor.
Vilniaus senamiestyje rytais kvepia šviežia duona ir kava. Siauromis gatvelėmis skuba žmonės, o virš raudonų stogų skamba bažnyčių varpai.
These are real screenshots of WordLantern on macOS 26. Click or tap a screenshot to see it larger.
Select text in a supported app and tap the shortcut. The translation opens in a popup. You can copy the translation or replace the selected text where the app supports it. Selection reading and replacement depend on the app and its Accessibility support.
Point at a word and hold the shortcut. WordLantern reads the word from the screen on your Mac. It uses the words near it to find the correct meaning.
Use Apple Intelligence, a local model, or an online provider that you already use. You do not need a WordLantern account.
Works with
Translation quality and speed depend on your model. Online providers can charge you for usage.
If WordLantern does not work as expected, do these steps:
To get help, send an email to contact@gramof.us. Include your macOS version and your WordLantern version.
Do not send API keys, sign-in tokens, passwords or private text.
Last updated: October 14, 2026
WordLantern: AI Translator (WordLantern in the macOS menu bar) is made by gramof.us. The developer does not receive translation requests, settings or credentials through the app. WordLantern has no developer-operated account or translation server, analytics, advertising or tracking. Text is processed on your Mac or sent directly to the service you choose, as described below.
When you start a translation, WordLantern reads the selected text or takes an image of a small area around the pointer. WordLantern finds the text in that image on your Mac. It never sends screen images. Your settings stay on your Mac.
Credentials are in the macOS Keychain by default. An optional local encrypted vault prevents Keychain prompts, but it gives less protection, because its key is in the same user account. If you sign in with ChatGPT, WordLantern stores the connection tokens and account information on your Mac. It sends tokens to OpenAI when needed to authenticate requests, renew the session or sign out; they are not sent to the developer.
WordLantern sends the selected text, or a word and the words near it, only to the translation service that you configured. It sends your text when you request a translation. Connection tests, prompt tests and latency checks also send their sample text and instructions to the selected service. Before sending translation text to a remote server, WordLantern asks for permission for that service and server for the current app session. You can reset these permissions from the menu bar.
Apple Intelligence runs on your Mac. A local server receives the text on your Mac or your network. An online provider receives the request, the credentials that you gave to it and usual network data, for example your IP address. The privacy policy of that provider applies, under your own account. The developer cannot see these requests. Do not translate sensitive text with a provider that you do not trust.
Some apps do not give their selection to Accessibility. In these apps, WordLantern can use Copy for a short time to read the selection. Then it tries to put back your previous clipboard. When you copy a translation, the translation goes to the clipboard.
Recognition diagnostics are optional and can contain recognized text. Reports stay on your Mac until you save or share them.
WordLantern does not sell your data. It sends text, instructions and authentication credentials directly to your chosen service to fulfil your request. The developer does not receive these requests. The app contains no third-party SDKs. Each provider has its own retention and processing practices; consult its privacy policy before connecting it.
You can turn off translation, remove services, sign out of ChatGPT and remove macOS permissions at any time. Removing a service deletes its credential from the currently selected credential store. If you previously switched between Keychain and the local vault, a copy may remain in the earlier store. Reset all settings attempts to remove credentials for current services from both stores. You can also remove remaining Keychain entries and local vault files yourself; contact us if you need help. When you uninstall the app, its settings, Keychain items and local vault can stay on your Mac. To remove data that a provider keeps, contact that provider. The App Store and TestFlight use the privacy practices of Apple.
If you send us an email, we use your message and email address only to answer you. Messages may remain in the support mailbox and its backups after we reply. Contact us to request deletion and information about any backup limitations. We do not sell them or use them for marketing. You can ask us to delete your messages at any time.
Send only the personal data that your question needs. Do not send API keys, sign-in tokens, passwords or private text.
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