# Zoom calls, Discord and YouTube livestreams can now get live English subtitles right on your Mac for free. From Preston (@quickfinesse): https://quickfinesse.dev/videos/2026-11-05-cicada Video: https://www.tiktok.com/@quickfinesse/video/7704839014955666718, posted November 5, 2026 ## What I'd like help with I watched this video and want to try it. Walk me through it one step at a time, and check the official links below before giving exact commands, since they change. ## In plain English Zoom calls, Discord and YouTube livestreams can now get live English subtitles right on your Mac for free. Cicada is open source on GitHub. Apple silicon Macs need no key; Intel Macs, Windows, Linux and Android need one. Which language would you use it for? ## What was used - wquguru/cicada (GitHub): https://github.com/wquguru/cicada - cicada.indaloop.app (Site): https://cicada.indaloop.app ## Credits By wquguru. Clips: NASA en Español, DLR, KTV, Japan PM's Office, Mixkit. The full guide for this video is on the page: https://quickfinesse.dev/videos/2026-11-05-cicada # Live subtitles for any call on your Mac for free > From Preston (@quickfinesse) > Cicada listens to whatever your Mac is playing and puts live subtitles in your language over it, from Zoom and Discord calls to YouTube livestreams. It's free and open source, and on Apple silicon Macs it works without any account or key. Here's what it does, how to set it up, and what to check when something doesn't show. > Page: https://quickfinesse.dev/videos/2026-11-05-cicada > Updated: November 5, 2026 ## What I'd like help with I want to set up Cicada, the free, open source live subtitle app at github.com/wquguru/cicada. Ask me which computer I have (Apple silicon Mac, Intel Mac, Windows, Linux or Android) and which macOS version, then walk me through it one step at a time using only its README. ## The short version Cicada hears what your computer plays, so it works with Zoom, Teams, Discord and YouTube livestreams without joining the call as a bot. Nobody else in the call has to install anything. It works out the spoken language by itself and translates into your system language, in a small subtitle bar that only shows up when someone talks. It's free and open source under the Apache-2.0 licence. The Mac app has every feature. There are also Windows, Linux and Android versions, and since version 1.3.0 (out November 5) it runs on Intel Macs too. See Cicada on GitHub: https://github.com/wquguru/cicada ## What it does - **Live subtitles** (pick: No key needed): It hears English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese, and translates into your Mac's language. Control-Option-S switches between the notes window, the subtitle bar and hidden. - **Talk back** (pick: Right Option key): Hold the right Option key and speak, and the other side hears your words in their language. It goes through BlackHole 2ch, a free virtual microphone you can install from inside the app. - **Meetings in the room** (pick: Uses the mic): Set Listen to in the menu bar panel to Room and it uses the Mac's microphone, with the same subtitles and records as an online call. - **Records and transcripts** (pick: Saved on your Mac): Every session keeps a two-language transcript and the audio on your Mac. You can export Markdown, Word or SRT subtitles. - **Videos you already have** (pick: Drag and drop): Drop a recording or video on the records window and it's transcribed on your Mac, much faster than real time. - **Live meeting notes** (pick: Needs a key): A summary, topics, to-dos and a glossary while the meeting runs. Notes use your own AI service key, from OpenRouter (their pick), Ling, ZenMux, OpenAI, or a model you run yourself. ## Set it up on a Mac 1. Download the right file. Get Cicada--macOS-AppleSilicon.dmg for an Apple silicon Mac, or the Intel one for an Intel Mac. Open it and drag Cicada into Applications. https://github.com/wquguru/cicada/releases/latest https://cicada.indaloop.app 2. Open it the first time. The app isn't notarized yet, so macOS may block the first launch. Open System Settings, Privacy and Security, and click Open Anyway. 3. Allow system audio recording. This is how it hears your calls. The README says it never records the screen or its own sound. 4. On macOS 14.4 to 15 only, turn on Dictation. In System Settings, Keyboard, turn on Dictation and add each language you want it to hear. macOS 26 doesn't need this. 5. Intel Macs need a Ling key. On Intel, speech is recognized in the cloud, so Cicada needs a Ling key before it can hear anything. Apple silicon Macs skip this step. 6. Play something. The first-launch guide plays a short sample meeting so you can see subtitles right away. After that, play any call or stream in another language. ## What stays on your Mac On Apple silicon Macs, the audio, language detection, speech recognition and recordings all stay on your computer. The only thing that leaves is the recognized text, sent to Google Translate or to the AI service you picked. There's no analytics, no tracking and no server of their own. Your meetings live in ~/Library/Application Support/LiveSubs. Intel Macs, Windows, Linux and Android send what's said, in short pieces, to the AI service you set up, which is why they need a key. Recordings stay on the device there too. ## Before you ask ChatGPT or Claude - **No subtitles appear**: Open System Settings, Privacy and Security, Screen and System Audio Recording, and turn Cicada on. Then quit and reopen Cicada. - **Nothing is recognized on macOS 15 or earlier**: Dictation is off, or the language isn't added to Dictation. Add it in System Settings, Keyboard. - **Nothing is recognized on an Intel Mac**: Intel Macs need a Ling key for speech. Add it in Settings, AI Service, then click Save and check. - **The other side can't hear my translation**: BlackHole 2ch isn't installed, or your meeting app's microphone isn't set to BlackHole 2ch. - **Notes say there's no key**: Subtitles work without a key, but notes need one. With OpenRouter, make a key, then paste it in Settings, AI Service and click Save and check. - **macOS blocks the app**: That's expected for now, since the builds aren't notarized yet. Use Open Anyway in System Settings, Privacy and Security. ## Remove it Quit Cicada and drag it from Applications to the Trash. To delete your saved transcripts, notes and recordings too, delete the LiveSubs folder in ~/Library/Application Support. ## Get it - **Apple silicon or Intel** (mac): Apple silicon works with no key. Intel needs a Ling key. https://github.com/wquguru/cicada/releases/latest - **Same app, with a key** (windows, linux, android): These versions need an AI service key, since speech is recognized in the cloud. https://cicada.indaloop.app - **OpenRouter** (key): Only needed for notes on Apple silicon, or for every other platform. https://openrouter.ai/settings/keys