How to Translate Anything on Your Screen Instantly
Stop copy pasting into Google Translate. An AI overlay reads text directly from your screen, in any app (including images), and translates it in place. 30+ languages.
March 17, 2026 · 6 min read
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The Problem with Translation Today
You're reading something in a language you don't fully understand. The current workflow is: select the text, copy it, open Google Translate, paste, read the translation, switch back. If the text is in an image or PDF you can't select, you have to type it out manually.
This is slow, breaks your focus, and doesn't work for text you can't select, which is more common than you think. Text in images, screenshots, video subtitles, scanned documents, application interfaces, and games can't be copy pasted.
What if you could just drag a box over any text on your screen and get an instant translation? That's what an AI overlay does.
How Screen Translation Works
Press the hotkey from any app: a website, PDF, game, video, or desktop application
Drag a box around the text you want translated
The AI vision model reads the text directly from your screen, even from images
The translation appears instantly in a floating popup, right where you are
Because the AI uses a vision model, it reads text the same way your eyes do, from the rendered pixels on screen. It doesn't need the text to be selectable, copyable, or even in a standard font. If you can read it, the AI can read it.
vs. Google Translate
| Google Translate | AI Overlay | |
|---|---|---|
| Input | Copy paste text | Drag over screen |
| Image text | Upload photo manually | Reads directly from screen |
| PDFs | Copy paste (often broken) | Reads directly |
| Video subtitles | Type manually | Drag and translate |
| App switching | Required | None |
| Context aware | Word by word | Understands context |
| Technical terms | Sometimes wrong | AI preserves meaning |
What You Can Translate
Because the AI reads pixels, not text data, it translates things that traditional translators can't touch:
Text sources
- Websites in any language
- PDF documents and textbooks
- Video subtitles and captions
- App interfaces and menus
- Email and messages
Visual sources (no copy paste possible)
- Text inside images and photos
- Scanned handwritten notes
- Game interfaces and dialogue
- Memes and social media images
- Signage in photos
30+ Supported Languages
LowLighter can translate between any of these languages in any direction:
Who Uses This
International Students
Studying at a university in a different language? Translate lecture slides, textbook passages, and assignment instructions without breaking your flow. The AI preserves academic terminology.
Language Learners
Immerse yourself in foreign content and translate words or sentences you don't know yet. Reading articles, watching videos, or browsing websites in your target language becomes frictionless.
Researchers
Academic papers aren't always in your language. Translate abstracts, methods sections, and findings from papers in any language. The AI understands scientific context and translates accordingly.
Gamers
Playing a game that isn't localized? Translate in game text, dialogue, menus, and quest descriptions by dragging over them. Works in fullscreen too.
FAQ
Can I translate text inside images?
Yes. The AI vision model reads text directly from your screen pixels, including text in images, photos, screenshots, and scanned documents. No OCR preprocessing required.
How many languages are supported?
30+ languages including all major world languages. LowLighter can translate between any pair of supported languages in either direction.
Is this better than Google Translate?
For screen translation, yes. Google Translate requires copying and pasting. LowLighter translates anything visible on your screen with a single drag, including text in images, PDFs, and apps that Google Translate can't access.
Does it preserve technical terminology?
Yes. Because LowLighter uses GPT-4o and other advanced AI models, it understands context. Technical terms, academic jargon, and specialized vocabulary are translated accurately rather than literally.
Try It
25 free responses, no credit card. Just drag over any text on your screen and get an instant translation. Works on macOS and Windows.