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Floating Subtitles on Mac

This page covers the Mac setup for floating subtitles. For how it works and supported platforms, see the Floating Subtitles overview.

On Mac, Whisperr runs in its own window and captures System audio — whatever you're hearing from a video, call, or any other app — so live subtitles appear beside your content in real time. Keep the Whisperr window visible next to what you're watching (for example, snapped to one side of the screen).

How to Use Floating Subtitles on Mac​

  1. Download Whisperr for Mac (an Apple Silicon .dmg), open the downloaded file, and drag Whisperr into your Applications folder
  2. Launch Whisperr and set your languages: pick the language you're hearing under Speaking and the one to Translate to
Setting the Speaking and Translate to languages in the Whisperr desktop app
  1. Switch the source toggle to 🔊 System audio — when macOS prompts, allow audio access
Whisperr desktop app with the System audio source selected
  1. Click the round record button — Whisperr transcribes everything playing on your Mac and shows the translation live
Clicking the record button in the Whisperr desktop app
  1. Play your video or join your call, then keep the Whisperr window beside it — subtitles update in real time as the audio plays. Use the Both / Transcription / Translation tabs to choose what's shown
Choosing Both, Transcription, or Translation in the Whisperr desktop app
Live subtitles from system audio with translation in the Whisperr desktop app

Common Issues (Mac)​

No audio is captured​

Whisperr needs audio-capture access to hear your system audio. If nothing is transcribed:

  1. Open System Settings
  2. Go to Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording (or the audio-access prompt shown when you first start)
  3. Turn on Whisperr, then restart the app

Microphone is selected instead of System audio​

To subtitle what you're hearing (not what you say), make sure the source toggle shows 🔊 System audio, not 🎙️ Microphone.

Subtitles are empty while audio plays​

Confirm the audio is actually playing through your Mac's output under System Settings > Sound > Output, and that the app or tab isn't muted.

Still nothing​

Restart the app and try again.

Still not working? Contact Support