Popover Support

Requirements

Use an iPhone or iPad that supports Apple Intelligence, running iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 or later, with Apple Intelligence enabled. On-device translation needs the model to be ready.

Private Cloud Compute requires iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 or later, a network connection and remaining daily quota. On iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, Automatic and On-Device Only use the on-device model; Cloud Only is unavailable.

Set Popover as the default translation app

Open Settings ▸ Apps ▸ Default Apps ▸ Translation and choose Popover. In Popover, Settings ▸ Setup Guide ▸ Open Settings takes you straight to Default Apps.

In an app that offers the system Translate action, select text and tap Translate. Popover displays the translation. To use another language just this once, tap a language name above the translation. Where the app allows it, Replace swaps your selection for the translation.

Deleting Popover resets the default translation app to Apple’s Translate. After reinstalling, choose Popover again in the same Settings screen.

Engines

Automatic, the default, prefers Private Cloud Compute and switches to the on-device model when the cloud is unavailable, today’s quota is used up, or a request fails.

Cloud Only never switches on its own and shows an error when Private Cloud Compute can’t answer.

On-Device Only keeps every translation on your device and works offline once the model is ready.

Common questions

No Translate item in the edit menu: the app may not offer the system Translate action for that selection. Try another app. If Apple’s Translate opens instead, check that Popover is the default translation app.

“Needs attention” on the Status tab: the line under the title names the problem, for example an unsupported device, Apple Intelligence turned off, or a model that isn’t ready yet.

Replace is unavailable: it works only after the translation finishes, and only if the app allows replacing that selection. You can copy the translation instead.

“Apple Intelligence declined to translate this text”: Apple’s safety checks stopped this translation. Try a different selection.

“Today’s Private Cloud Compute quota has been used up”: Apple limits how much each person can use Private Cloud Compute in a day. Automatic keeps translating with the on-device model. With Cloud Only, tap Use On-Device Model to translate that text on your device. You can also choose On-Device Only in Popover Settings, or wait until the reset time shown on the Status tab.

Privacy

Popover has no developer-operated translation servers, accounts, ads or analytics. Read the privacy policy for how the on-device model and Private Cloud Compute handle your text.

Contact

For questions or problems, email [email protected]. Include your iPhone or iPad model, iOS or iPadOS version, Popover version and the app you were translating in.