Type in your language. Read it in theirs.
Write in any text field, pause for a moment, and the translation appears right next to your cursor. Click it to replace the original. No window switching, no copy and paste.
Free to use · No sign-up · System requirements and checksums
Real screenshot: about 0.9 s after you stop typing, the GlowTrans panel shows the translation
Out of sight until you need it
It reads only the line you are typing, translates it, and lets you decide whether to use it.
Translate on pause
Translates about 0.9 s after your input method commits, and stays out of the way while you compose. Adjust the pause from 0.3 to 5 s.
Replace in one click
Click the translation to write it back, with native undo intact. Or press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Y to translate the current field.
Works where you type
Chat apps, browsers, mail, editors and terminals. Reads text through Accessibility on macOS and UI Automation on Windows.
Ready out of the box, or bring your model
Uses a free public translation service by default, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint. History stays in memory and never hits disk.
Download GlowTrans 0.1.3
Released 2026-10-23 · build 261023
macOS
NotarizedOpen the DMG and drag GlowTrans into Applications. On first launch, allow GlowTrans under System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility.
Download for macOSWindows
PortableUnzip and run GlowTrans.exe. No permissions needed. If SmartScreen appears, choose More info › Run anyway.
Download for WindowsFrequently asked questions
Pricing, languages, supported apps and privacy, in short.
What is GlowTrans?
GlowTrans (追光快译) is a desktop typing translator for macOS and Windows that runs quietly in the background. Type in your own language in any app's text field, pause for about 0.9 seconds, and the translation appears in a small panel next to your cursor. Click it to replace the original text. No window switching, no copy and paste.
Is GlowTrans free? Do I need an account or an API key?
Yes, GlowTrans is 100% free to download and use with no account and no API key required. By default it uses the MyMemory public translation service, which provides about 5,000 characters per day anonymously. For higher volume or better models, connect any OpenAI-compatible endpoint in Settings; the API key is used strictly for the current session in memory and is never written to disk or logs.
Which languages does GlowTrans support?
GlowTrans supports 14 translation languages and interface languages: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Vietnamese and Thai. You can swap source and target in one click; the default is Chinese to English.
Which apps does it work in?
GlowTrans works across chat apps (Slack, Discord, WeChat, Telegram, WhatsApp), browsers, email clients, code editors (VS Code, Cursor) and terminals, with no browser extension required. On macOS it reads text fields through Accessibility; on Windows through UI Automation. In terminals it displays translations without replacing text.
Will it interrupt me while I compose with an input method?
No, GlowTrans never interrupts composition. It waits until your input method commits the text and you pause for about 0.9 seconds before translating. The pause delay is adjustable from 0.3 to 5.0 seconds. You can also press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Y to manually translate the active field, or Cmd/Ctrl+Alt+Shift+P to toggle automatic translation.
Does GlowTrans upload or store what I type?
GlowTrans reads only the single line you are typing and sends it to your designated translation engine. Password and secure input fields are strictly ignored. Translation history is cached in volatile memory only and wiped immediately upon exiting; nothing is written to disk.
What are the system requirements and permissions?
The macOS version requires macOS 11+ · Apple Silicon & Intel. The DMG is notarized by Apple; on first launch, allow GlowTrans under System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility. The Windows version requires Windows 10/11 · x64; unzip and run with no admin rights needed. If Windows SmartScreen appears on first run, choose More info › Run anyway.