Summary
PhraseLens does not require an account and does not include advertising, behavioral analytics, or a third-party crash-reporting SDK. This website does not use marketing analytics or tracking cookies.
PhraseLens — Immersive Captions
Privacy Policy
This policy explains how PhraseLens, operated by Linjun Li, handles information in the macOS app and on this website.
Last updated: September 6, 2026Audio and speech recognition
During setup, an explicit System Audio permission request briefly opens an audio-only input for system audio, discards every sample, and closes it without saving audio or using speech recognition. For captions, App Audio receives only the selected app’s outgoing audio through System Audio Recording; it does not create a screen stream or capture windows, screen pixels, or video. Microphone audio is captured only when you choose Microphone. Recognition uses a downloaded Apple speech model and runs on your Mac. Audio is not uploaded to a server operated by PhraseLens.
Captions and local data
Caption text stays in memory until you quit; it is written to a TXT file only when you export it. Preferences, lookup-site definitions, and completed setup instructions may be stored locally. Instruction progress is not a permission grant. Temporary recovery records retain the capture method and selected app identity so you can return after visiting Settings or restarting; they do not keep listening history.
Lookup websites and selected text
When you open a lookup, the selected caption text is sent to the third-party website you chose. Google Search and jpdb.io are included by default; sites you add have their own terms and privacy practices.
Website Sessions
A lookup site opened inside PhraseLens may keep app-scoped cookies, cache, and local storage so sign-ins and preferences can persist between lookups. This website data is separate from Safari and can be removed with Clear Website Data in PhraseLens settings.
Record Search
Record Search uses a temporary, isolated browser session to learn only the steps needed to submit a search. PhraseLens does not save page content, login credentials, or browsing history from that recording.
Playback synchronization
For a selected recognized browser, PhraseLens automatically attempts Space shortcuts when Browser Lookup opens or closes and when captions pause or resume. Overlapping actions are coordinated; there are no per-action switches. macOS shows this PostEvent permission under Accessibility. PhraseLens does not inspect page content or playback state and does not save browser process identifiers, URLs, media titles, or playback history.
Feedback and support
Send Feedback prepares an editable email with app version/build, macOS version and interface language. Your email and anything you choose to include are handled by the relevant email providers. PhraseLens does not automatically attach captions, audio, source-app identity, URLs, browsing history, logs, or device identifiers.
Retention and deletion
PhraseLens does not operate an account or developer server that stores audio or captions. You can clear lookup Website Sessions in the app and remove preferences by deleting the app and its local application data.
Permissions
PhraseLens may request System Audio Recording, Microphone, Speech Recognition, and Accessibility permissions for features you choose. You can revoke them at any time in macOS System Settings.
Children
PhraseLens is a general-purpose language-learning tool and is not directed to children under 13.
Changes
If these data practices change, this policy and the App Store privacy disclosures will be updated before the change is released.
Contact
PhraseLens is operated by Linjun Li. For privacy or support questions, email support@linjunli.com.