Point
Place your cursor over a word. HoverLens reads accessible text first, then tries OCR around the cursor when needed.
EXTREMELY LOW LATENCY
HoverLens - 悬浮翻译
Hover over a word. Tap Option. See its meaning.
A native macOS app with offline dictionaries,
on-device OCR, translation, and pronunciation.
Developer ID signed · Apple notarized
Stay with what you’re reading
HOVERLENS DEMO
Hover. Tap Option.
A mind opens a of ideas. Leave room for .
HoverLensLocal lookupcurious
/ˈkjʊəriəs/
ECDICT · Offline English–Chinese
adj.好奇的；求知欲强的
eager to know or learn something
- 1Point
- 2Tap Option
- 3Read meaning
Animated illustration · Pause or click a word to explore.
Native menu bar appOn-device OCR + offline dictionaryNo account required
01 / HOW IT WORKS
Hover. Tap Option.
Get the translation.
No copying. No switching windows. Keep your attention on the thought in front of you.
Tap
Tap and release Option. Prefer another gesture? Set a custom shortcut or turn on automatic hover.
Understand. Carry on.
Read definitions, translation, and pronunciation in a floating panel. Point to another word and tap Option to keep going.
02 / FEATURES
Dictionary. Translation.
OCR. Pronunciation.
Choose the dictionary, translation, and recognition sources that work for you.
Dictionary first. Sentences follow.
See definitions from the offline ECDICT English–Chinese dictionary and your macOS dictionaries first. Enable sentence translation to then stream a translation of the surrounding sentence.
ECDICT needs an initial download of about 52 MB, then works offline.Independent services. Saved configurations.
Toggle five services independently: two dictionaries, Apple and AI word translation, and sentence translation. Save multiple OpenAI-compatible configurations to switch accounts or models.
Apple translation requires macOS 26+ and supported language packs. Cloud provider charges may apply.Look up words in images and video subtitles.
Hover over text in an image, a PDF, or paused video subtitles and tap Option to look it up. Uses on-device Apple OCR, with Baidu OCR as an option.
Results depend on image clarity. Protected content may block capture.Hear the word. Find its rhythm.
Use Apple’s on-device speech with the speaker button. Choose American or British English and adjust playback from 0.5–1.5× speed.
Matching installed voices work offline without an API key.FAQ
A few things you might be wondering.
How is HoverLens different from Bob?
Bob’s screenshot translation workflow requires you to select a rectangular area before recognizing and translating the text. HoverLens skips this selection step and looks up the word under your cursor. It prioritizes quick word lookup, also offers optional sentence translation, and can be used alongside Bob.
How is HoverLens different from Hover Translation?
HoverLens combines optimized OCR with a local dictionary, prioritizing word definitions with optional sentence translation. Compared with Hover Translation, it offers lower response latency for a faster, smoother lookup experience.
Which Macs are supported?
The current v0.5.2 download supports Apple Silicon (M-series chips) on macOS 14 or later. An Intel build is not currently provided. Apple on-device translation additionally requires macOS 26+. Earlier systems can use offline and system dictionaries or compatible cloud translation.
Do I need to pay or bring an API key?
HoverLens is free to download. Local OCR, system dictionaries, ECDICT, and on-device speech need no API key. Apple translation requires a supported system and language packs. Cloud translation and Baidu OCR need your own credentials; provider quotas and charges apply.
What does notarization mean for installation?
This download is Developer ID signed. Both the app and DMG passed Apple notarization, have stapled tickets, and passed Gatekeeper checks. Follow macOS prompts when opening the app, then grant the lookup permissions. Notarization is Apple’s automated security check, rather than App Store review.
Does it translate sentences or video subtitles?
Yes, it can translate the sentence containing the word you look up. Sentence translation is off by default: enable AI sentence translation in the dictionary and translation settings to stream replies using your configured OpenAI-compatible service. It can read across lines; incomplete text is labeled as a context fragment, and only captured text is translated. Full-article and live video subtitle translation are not supported.
Where are API keys stored?
Credentials are stored in a permission-restricted local file on your Mac. They are currently unencrypted and do not use Keychain. No HoverLens developer account is required. Keep your service credentials secure.
How do I update or send feedback?
Updates will be available on GitHub Releases. Download and replace the app manually. To report an issue, email the developer with your app and macOS versions.
HOVER TRANSLATION FOR MACOS
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Extremely Low Latency.
Free download for MacRelease notes & all filesVerify your download
Signed & Apple notarized · Apple Silicon · macOS 14+
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