Live Subtitles for Mac: The Complete Setup Guide
Setting up live translated subtitles on your Mac takes less than a minute. Seagull captures system audio from any app and shows real-time translated subtitles as a floating overlay on your screen.
Getting started on Mac
Download Seagull from the official website and open the installer. Drag the app to your Applications folder and launch it. On first launch, macOS will ask you to grant audio capture permissions in System Settings. This is required so Seagull can listen to system audio from other apps.
Once permissions are granted, select your source language (the language being spoken) and your target language (the language you want to read). Click Start, and Seagull will begin capturing audio and displaying translated subtitles as a floating overlay on your screen.
Tips for the best experience on Mac
Seagull works with any app that plays audio on your Mac, including Safari, Chrome, Zoom, Slack, Spotify, and local media players. The subtitle overlay stays on top of all windows by default, so you can keep your content in full view while reading translations.
You can reposition and resize the subtitle overlay by dragging it. For the best accuracy, make sure the audio is clear and the volume is at a reasonable level. Seagull supports 60+ languages and handles most accents and speaking speeds well.
How to Get Started
Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. The app installs in seconds and requires no configuration.
Choose the language being spoken and the language you want to see. Seagull supports 40+ languages out of the box.
Seagull will transcribe and translate audio from any app in real time. Captions appear in a small overlay on your screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Seagull need special permissions on Mac?
Yes. macOS requires you to grant audio capture permissions so Seagull can listen to system audio. You will be prompted on first launch, and you can manage this in System Settings under Privacy and Security.
Does Seagull work with all Mac apps?
Yes. Seagull captures system audio from your Mac, so it works with any application that plays audio, including browsers, meeting apps, media players, and streaming platforms.
Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. 1 hour free trial included.