Translation can include customer messages, unreleased documents, contracts, source code, and personal conversations. Check which model is active for each request before using sensitive text.
Download a local model to translate on your Mac, including when you are offline. Google and DeepSeek are also built in. You can add your own API key to use more models.
Where your text is processed
Using your own API key does not make a cloud model local. It changes the account and billing relationship, but the request is still processed under that provider’s infrastructure and privacy policy.
| Mode | Where processing happens | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Local model | On your Mac | Private drafts, internal material, offline work |
| Built-in Google or DeepSeek | The selected online service | Use an online service without adding your own API key |
| Your API key | Provider tied to your key | Direct model access and account-level control |
What TranslateWindow excludes from analytics
- Source text and translated text.
- OCR output, selected text, and clipboard contents.
- Screenshots and captured screen regions.
- License keys, API keys, and customer email addresses.
Choose a model by content
Choose the local model when your text needs to stay on the Mac. For other content, you can switch to an online service when you prefer its translation.
Before translating a private message or internal document, check which service is active.
What offline translation cannot promise
A local model can keep translation content on the device, but it does not secure an already compromised Mac, erase copied text from other applications, or make every third-party integration offline. System permissions and device security still matter.
Read the current privacy policy before using any product for regulated or highly sensitive material, and verify the active service inside the app rather than relying on a general feature list.
Choose the boundary for each translation
Use TranslateWindow’s local model for sensitive content and switch deliberately when a cloud service is the better tool.