Set up your first translation
- Get a Gemini API key in Google AI Studio. Check your project’s access, billing and limits.
- In iDub, open Settings → Gemini API key and connect it. Paste the key only in the app, never in an email.
- Choose Video & audio, Nearby speech, or Books and text. Select the language you want to hear or read.
- Review the data disclosure and allow the access needed for your source. Start a listening session, choose a media file, or import a document.
The service is for adults 18+. Check the Google service requirements and data handling information before translating.
Choose your translation mode
Video & audio
From apps translates supported audio playing on your device, including videos, podcasts and lessons. On iOS, start the iDub broadcast. On Mac, click Start translation, select a display in the macOS sharing window and confirm sharing the entire screen; only audio is processed. Then play spoken audio in the source app. Audio / video file opens a recording from your files or gallery in iDub’s player, with translation, captions, playback speed and seeking. Supported media formats depend on your device.
Nearby speech
Listen live translates speech around you through the microphone, for example a lecture, tour or television. The spoken language is detected automatically. Conversation is for two people taking turns: choose each person’s language, tap their microphone, speak and stop recording to hear the translation. Each person has their own half of the screen.
Books and text
Import a PDF, TXT, DOCX, EPUB, FB2 or RTF file, or paste text. Choose a translation language and narration voice, then read and listen. Your library, prepared audio and listening position stay in the app, so you can continue later.
PDFs need an extractable text layer; scanned pages are not read with OCR. Protected books are not unlocked. Website links are not an import source, and book audio cannot currently be downloaded or exported.
Common problems
My key will not connect
Check for extra spaces, a working internet connection and Gemini access in your Google project. A valid key still needs access to the model used by iDub. If Google reports a quota or billing problem, check your project limits and payment settings.
I cannot hear a translation
Check your headphone connection, device volume and iDub’s playback setting. For Nearby speech, allow microphone access in your device settings. In Conversation, finish recording your turn before waiting for the spoken translation. For From apps, approve audio capture and play content in the source app. Some apps and protected videos block capture.
Where are the captions?
Return to iDub while the source audio continues playing. You can read the translation or show original and translated text together. A selected audio or video file has captions in its own player.
My book will not import or continue
Check that the document uses a supported format and contains selectable text. For a scanned PDF, paste the text instead. New translated audio requires an internet connection and available Gemini access. Prepared sections are saved locally. If preparation reports an error, check the connection and your Google project, then use Retry.
How does the daily book listening allowance work?
On iOS and Mac, Free includes 30 minutes per day shared across audio translation and first-time listening in Books and text. Only actual listening to previously unheard portions uses book minutes. Preparing audio, pauses, seeking and replaying heard portions are free. With 5 minutes left, a new 8-minute excerpt stops after 5 minutes at normal playback speed. You can still replay the heard portion. The allowance resets at 00:00 UTC; Plus removes the iDub time limit. Google quotas remain separate. See Free and Plus terms.
Why is a word not highlighted?
Book word highlighting depends on speech timing data. If Google’s speech recognition quota is reached, a prepared section can play without word highlighting. You can still listen to that section and read the translation.
How do I stop capture?
Stop Listen live in the app or use Finish in Conversation. For From apps on iOS, stop the broadcast using the recording indicator or Control Center; on Mac, click Stop translation or end sharing with the macOS sharing controls; on Android, use the system capture controls or stop the session in iDub. Closing a screen alone may leave capture running.
Delete or control your data
No iDub account is required, so there is no account to delete. You can still manage local files and request deletion of support correspondence.
- Invalidate your API key: revoke it in Google AI Studio. You can connect a replacement in iDub. Keychain on iOS and Mac can retain a key after uninstalling; do not rely on uninstalling to revoke it.
- Conversation history: open History in Conversation and delete the conversations you no longer want to keep.
- Books and text: delete a book from its library to remove its saved source and prepared audio.
- Cached files: open Cache in settings to clear individual categories. Stop any playback or translation using a category first. Clearing cache keeps your saved books, listening positions and settings.
- Exported copies: delete saved transcripts or attachments from the apps and folders where you sent them. Stopping a session does not delete those copies.
- Information held by us: email support@idub.live with a privacy or deletion request. Describe what you want deleted; do not include your key. We can act on information we hold, such as support messages, but cannot remotely erase your device or Google’s records.
Contact support
Email support@idub.live. Include your device model, operating system version, iDub version, the mode you used and what happened. A screenshot with private details removed can help.
Never send your API key, passwords or private conversations. We do not need them to answer routine support questions. Publisher: Malekkgorshidi Mohsen.
Read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.