Offline OCR and Translation on Mac

“Local OCR” and “fully offline” are related but not identical. ClariRec is local-first: the default path stays on your Mac, while optional cloud features exist when you choose them.

This page is a practical checklist for staying offline (or as close as possible) while still getting OCR and translation done.

Offline-capable building blocks

Capability Offline? Notes
System OCR (Vision) Yes Default engine; needs Screen Recording only for ⌥S
Local translation model (HY-MT2) Yes after download One-time ~1.1GB download; then text never leaves the Mac
Apple Intelligence translation On-device when available macOS 26+; depends on system Apple Intelligence state — no API key in ClariRec
macOS system translation Mostly on-device May need a language pack download the first time a pair is used
BYOK OCR / translation / formula No Content goes to your configured endpoint when you use it
Model download / connection tests Network Only when you trigger them

For the formal boundary table, see Local OCR for macOS.

Checklist: OCR only, fully offline

  1. Keep OCR engine = System.
  2. Do not set a remote OCR provider as the default engine.
  3. Do not click remote OCR rerun in the result window.
  4. Skip formula recognition (it always uses a BYOK VLM when triggered).
  5. Use Popup / HUD / Silent as you like — display mode does not require the network.
  6. Export .txt / .md or copy Markdown tables locally — see Markdown table from screenshot.

With this setup, everyday screenshot and clipboard OCR do not send content to the cloud.

Checklist: OCR + offline translation

  1. Complete the OCR checklist above.
  2. In Settings → Translation / Providers, choose one of:
    • Local HY-MT2 model (download once when you have network, then work offline), or
    • Apple Intelligence on a supported macOS 26 system where it is ready
  3. Turn Auto Translate on only if you are fine translating every OCR result with that on-device engine.
  4. Avoid BYOK translation providers while you want zero content egress.
  5. Prefer result-window translation, Services, or ⌥T with the on-device engine selected.

Language packs: if you use macOS system translation instead, allow a one-time pack download when prompted; afterward that pair can work without repeatedly sending content to a third-party API. For automation (Shortcuts / URL scheme), system translation is not the supported path — use the local model or Apple Intelligence instead. Details: ClariRec Shortcuts and URL Scheme.

What still needs the network (even in a “local” lifestyle)

Be explicit about these one-off or optional events:

  • Downloading the local translation model (~1.1GB)
  • Downloading a system translation language pack
  • App Store updates and Pro purchase / restore (Apple)
  • Any BYOK connection test or cloud feature you click later

ClariRec does not include analytics or telemetry SDKs in the app.

Verify yourself

  • Keep System OCR selected and watch outbound connections with Little Snitch, Proxyman, or similar while doing only ⌥S / ⌥V
  • Expect network only when you download a model/pack or enable a cloud provider
  • Read Local OCR for macOS and the Privacy Policy for the full wording

When offline is the wrong goal

Stay honest about tradeoffs:

  • Some scans need stronger remote OCR → Pro BYOK may be worth it for those images only
  • Some language pairs are better on a cloud engine you already pay for
  • Formula → LaTeX always uses your VLM provider when you trigger it

Use offline as the default; turn on cloud features per task, not as a permanent global mode.

Local OCR · Screenshot OCR · Translate · FAQ

Download on the App Store