Crosslate
Support
Updated August 6, 2026
Below are the questions that come up most often. If yours isn't answered here, write to me and I'll get back to you.
Getting started
Crosslate brings no translation engine of its own. It hands your text to the engines you choose and puts their results side by side, so you can compare them. The first time you open it, add at least one service under Settings → Translation Services and you're ready to translate.
Apple Translation and Google Translate need no configuration — add them and they work. Every other service uses an API key of your own.
Common questions
Why do I have to supply my own API key?
Because it keeps your text away from any middleman. The key is between you and the provider, drawing on your own account and quota; the app neither bills you nor sees what you translate. The cost is a few extra minutes of setup.
What does Pro add?
The free version can have one translation service enabled at a time. Pro is a one-time purchase that unlocks running several at once and comparing their results on a single screen — which is the point of the app.
How does the floating window work?
On the Floating Window screen, pick a translation service and start it. Then switch to any other app and copy some text: the translation appears in the floating window as it arrives, scrolling up on its own when the text runs long. You can also add the Floating Window toggle to Control Center to start and stop it from anywhere.
Can I stop iOS asking every time I paste?
Yes. iOS sets “Paste from Other Apps” to “Ask” by default. Open Settings → Preferences → Turn Off Paste Prompts in the app; it takes you straight to the matching system setting, where you can change it to “Allow”.
A shortcut says the Apple Translation language pack isn't downloaded
When you translate in the app or in the floating window, iOS offers to download a missing language pack and you can accept it on the spot. A shortcut runs in the background with no interface to host that download sheet, so all it can do is report the error. Translate that language pair once in the app to fetch the pack, and the shortcut will work from then on.
How do I translate selected text in other apps?
Tap Set as Default Translation App on the app's Settings screen. Once Crosslate is the default, select text anywhere on iPhone and choose Translate from the system menu to use it.
Are my API keys safe?
Keys are stored in your device's Keychain, encrypted by iOS, and used only to make requests to the provider they belong to. They are sent nowhere else. See the privacy policy for details.
Does it support Shortcuts?
Yes. The Translate Text action takes a source language, a target language and one or more translation services, and shows each engine's result as a card when it runs — usually the simplest way to use it. If you want to carry the translations into later steps, the action also returns a list of results you can take one at a time. There are also two Control Center controls: one that opens the app straight to the text field, and a floating window toggle.
Contact
For bug reports, feature suggestions or anything else, write to arispex@icloud.com. Including your iOS version, the app version, and the steps that led to the problem will help me track it down faster.