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Getting Started with Sidekick Translate

Welcome to Sidekick Translate! This guide will walk you through the essential one-time setup steps to unlock the most powerful and convenient features of the app. Taking a few minutes to configure these settings will ensure you have the best possible experience.

Sidekick Smart — iOS Shortcut

To unlock the full power and convenience of system-wide translation, you’ll want to install our custom iOS Shortcut.

Please Note: Sidekick Smart uses AI translation exclusively to provide the most accurate results. On-device translation is not supported for this specific feature. You must have an active “Access Pass” and sufficient Tokens to use the shortcut.

Step 1: Install the Shortcut

  • From within the Sidekick Translate app, navigate to the Preferences screen.
  • Tap the button to Install the Sidekick Smart Shortcut.
  • Follow the on-screen prompts from iOS to add the shortcut to your library. You must have Sidekick Translate installed on your device for the shortcut to function.

Step 2: Link the Shortcut to a Trigger After installing, you can assign the shortcut to a physical button on your iPhone for instant access.

  • Action Button (iPhone 15 Pro and newer): Assign “Sidekick Smart” as your primary action.
  • Back Tap (Most modern iPhones): Assign “Sidekick Smart” to a Double Tap or Triple Tap.

Step-by-step guides for linking the shortcut to the Action Button or Back Tap are available for you in the app’s Preferences screen.

Conversation Mode Setup

To ensure a smooth, back-and-forth conversation, you’ll need to configure a few system settings. These steps enable both private on-device translations and easier text input.

1. Download Language Packs for On-Device Translation

This is a crucial step for using private, offline-capable translations.

Requirement: You MUST have Apple’s free Translate app installed on your iPhone to manage and use on-device language packs. You can download it from the App Store.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Translate.
  3. Tap on Languages.
  4. You will see a list of available languages. Tap the download icon (a cloud with an arrow) next to each language you plan to use in your conversations.

For instance, if you speak English and are talking with someone who speaks Thai, you must download both English (US) and Thai to enable on-device translation between them.

2. Install Keyboard Languages

This allows you or your conversation partner to easily type in different languages.

  1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.
  2. Tap Keyboards at the top of the screen.
  3. Tap Add New Keyboard…
  4. Select the languages you need from the list. Once added, you can switch between them using the globe icon on your keyboard.

3. Enable Keyboard Dictation (Optional, but Highly Recommended)

This lets you speak instead of type, making conversations faster and more natural.

  1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.
  2. Scroll down to the “Dictation” section and make sure the Enable Dictation toggle is turned on.
  3. Tap on Dictation Languages and ensure all the languages you plan to speak are selected.

You’re all set! With these features configured, you are ready to experience the full convenience of Sidekick Translate. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at support@ascensolabs.com.