How can we help?
Scan & Translate is a free iPhone utility for capturing text, organising it in local projects, translating it, reading it aloud and preparing shareable MP3 audio.
Before starting
Open Settings → Review App Setup in Scan & Translate and confirm:
- A translation provider is configured.
- The chosen provider supports the source and target language pair.
- A Premium or Enhanced Apple voice is installed for reading.
- Whisper large-v3 is installed before using Record Audio.
- Camera or microphone permission is granted for the feature being used.
Translation providers
OpenAI
OpenAI translation needs an internet connection and a connected ChatGPT plan. In the app, open Settings and use Continue with ChatGPT. Scan & Translate does not ask you to create or paste a separate API key.
Apple High-Fidelity Translation
On supported devices, Apple High-Fidelity Translation works offline after Apple Intelligence and the required language assets are ready. The app checks the exact language pair before enabling translation. Its language coverage and translation quality may differ from OpenAI.
Reading voices
Scan & Translate uses installed Apple Premium voices when available and Enhanced voices as the minimum fallback. Standard voices are not selected for new reading or MP3 preparation.
Install voices in:
Return to Scan & Translate and choose Refresh Installed Voices afterward.
Record Audio
Record Audio uses the pinned Whisper large-v3 model locally. If it is not installed, open the Models tab, download All Supported Audio Transcription Languages, and keep the app open until download and integrity validation finish.
Pause, resume and interrupted work
Translations and audio preparation are saved as project activity. Pause waits for the current provider or system operation to stop safely before Resume becomes available. If work was interrupted, reopen the project and choose Resume. Do not remove the related translation or audio while its task is active.
Prepared audio and MP3 files
When preparation finishes, Prepare Audio changes to Play Audio. The dedicated player supports background playback, seeking, speed changes, sharing and deletion. Deleting prepared audio does not delete its source text or translation.
Common fixes
- Confirm that the selected provider is ready and supports both languages.
- Use Models to verify that Whisper is fully installed before recording.
- Refresh installed voices after downloading one in iPhone Settings.
- For OpenAI, confirm internet access and reconnect ChatGPT if authorization expired.
- Open the project Activity view to resume paused or interrupted work.
Contact
For app issues, feedback, feature requests or privacy questions, email translateandscan@gmail.com.
Your data
Projects remain on your iPhone until you remove them or delete the app. For details, read the Privacy Notice.