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SwiftBiu

Use case · Selected text translation

Translate selected text on Mac without leaving the app

When you only need to understand a sentence or paragraph, copying it into a separate translation app adds unnecessary steps. SwiftBiu keeps the translation action beside the text you already selected so you can translate, review the result, and continue working in place.

Download SwiftBiu Read the text actions guide

Direct answer

Direct answer

Select the text in a macOS app, trigger SwiftBiu, and choose Translate. SwiftBiu uses the selected text as the action input, so you do not need to manually copy it into another translation window first. For repeated workflows, you can configure a compatible shortcut or gesture to reach the action faster.

Verified 2026-08-12

Problem

The problem with copy → switch app → paste

A traditional translation workflow interrupts the task you are doing: select text, copy it, open a browser or translator, paste it, read the result, then return to the original app. That overhead is small once, but becomes noticeable when you translate short passages repeatedly across Mail, Safari, Notes, chat apps, editors, or documents.

SwiftBiu

How SwiftBiu changes the workflow

SwiftBiu treats the current selection as context. Its action layer can appear beside selected text and expose Translate alongside search, copy, AI, and plugin actions. The translation step stays attached to the text source instead of forcing you to move the text into a separate tool first.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Select the text

    Highlight the sentence, paragraph, label, or other selectable text you want to translate in the current macOS app.

  2. 2

    Trigger SwiftBiu

    Use your configured copy trigger, shortcut, or gesture to open the SwiftBiu action layer for that selection.

  3. 3

    Choose Translate

    Run the Translate action. SwiftBiu passes the selected text into the configured translation workflow and shows or returns the result according to that action.

  4. 4

    Keep working in context

    Continue in the original app, or route the selected or translated text into another text action when your workflow needs a second step.

The translation workflow starts from the selection

SwiftBiu's main translation surface is designed around text selected in the current app. The same context-action model also supports OCR text when the source cannot be selected directly.

Read the selected-text workflow in the guide →
SwiftBiu translation action for selected text on macOS

Alternative: built-in macOS or copy-and-paste translation

macOS and individual apps can provide their own translation options in supported contexts, and copying text into a browser or translation app remains a perfectly valid workflow. SwiftBiu is most useful when you want one consistent trigger and action layer across many apps, or when translation is only one step in a broader text, AI, plugin, or per-app workflow.

When SwiftBiu is useful for translation

  • check_circle You translate short selected passages repeatedly across several apps and want a consistent interaction.
  • check_circle You want translation beside other selected-text actions such as search, copy, AI rewrite, or a custom plugin.
  • check_circle You want different trigger or toolbar behavior in different apps through SwiftBiu per-app rules.
  • check_circle The text is not selectable and you want to fall back to SwiftBiu OCR, then continue with the same text-action workflow.

Limitations and privacy

  • info This workflow starts with selectable text. If the source cannot be selected, use the OCR workflow to recognize the text first.
  • info System-wide triggers can require the macOS permissions described in the SwiftBiu setup guide.
  • info Translation quality and supported languages depend on the translation service or action you choose.
  • info SwiftBiu does not collect selected text automatically. Text is sent to an external translation service only when you explicitly run an action that requires that service.

Related SwiftBiu workflows

Text actions on Mac

See the full selected-text action model, including translation, search, AI, and plugins.

OCR on Mac

Recognize text that cannot be selected, then continue with Translate or another text action.

Text actions in the User Guide

Review setup, triggers, toolbar behavior, and built-in selected-text actions.

SwiftBiu Plugin Library

Extend selected-text workflows with additional actions and custom plugins.

Translate selected text on Mac FAQ

Select the text, trigger SwiftBiu with your configured workflow, and choose Translate from the available text actions.
No. SwiftBiu can use the current text selection as the action input, so a separate manual copy-and-paste step is not required.
Use SwiftBiu OCR to capture and recognize the screen text, then pass the OCR result into the Translate action.
Yes. Compatible actions can be assigned to SwiftBiu triggers so repeated workflows can reach the desired action more directly.

Keep translation attached to the text you are reading

Install SwiftBiu, select a passage in the app you are already using, and run Translate from the same context instead of moving the text through a separate copy-and-paste workflow.

Download SwiftBiu Read the text actions guide