LangSwitcher for MAC
Free, open-source menu bar app that converts text typed in the wrong keyboard layout with a double press of Shift.
LangSwitcher Overview
LangSwitcher is a free, open-source menu bar app that fixes text typed in the wrong keyboard layout. If you meant to type привет but your Mac was set to English and you got ghbdtn, press Shift twice and LangSwitcher replaces the text with the right characters. It works out which layout the text was typed in and maps each character through its physical key position, so punctuation such as ? and ! stays as it is. It supports English, Russian, German, French and Spanish layouts, taken from the input sources you already use.
You do not even need to select the text first: in the default Greedy Line mode, LangSwitcher finds where the wrong-layout text starts on the current line and converts the whole phrase, while Last Word mode converts only the word before the cursor. The shortcut can be changed, and an optional conversion log, off by default, stores conversions in a local database that you can review and export as JSON. LangSwitcher is written in Swift, sends no data anywhere and collects no analytics. It is made by the GitHub developer reg2005 and released under the MIT license. It needs macOS 13 or later and Accessibility permission, which it uses to copy and paste the text it converts. The interface is in English or Russian. The release notes of version 1.1.0 do not list individual changes; they say to run xattr -cr /Applications/LangSwitcher.app if macOS reports the downloaded app as damaged.
Key Features
LangSwitcher saves you from retyping text in the right layout.
- Double Shift: press Shift twice to convert, or set your own shortcut.
- Greedy Line mode: finds and converts the wrong-layout phrase on the line.
- Last Word mode: converts only the last word you typed.
- Auto-detection: recognises which layout the text was typed in.
- Five layouts: English, Russian, German, French and Spanish.
- Punctuation kept: non-letter characters stay unchanged.
- Conversion log: optional, local only, with JSON export.
- Private: no network access, no analytics, menu bar only.
What’s New in Version 1.1.0
LangSwitcher 1.1.0 is published with downloads for every Mac.
- Separate Apple Silicon, Intel and universal builds, each as a DMG or ZIP
- Needs macOS 13 or later
- The release notes do not list individual changes
LangSwitcher FAQ
Is LangSwitcher free?
Yes. LangSwitcher is free and open source under the MIT license.
What does LangSwitcher do?
It converts text typed in the wrong keyboard layout into the right one. For example, ghbdtn typed on an English layout becomes привет.
How do I convert text?
Press Shift twice quickly. You can select the text first, or let Smart Conversion find it: Greedy Line converts the wrong-layout phrase on the current line, Last Word converts only the last word.
Which keyboard layouts are supported?
English (U.S. and ABC), Russian, German, French and Spanish. LangSwitcher uses the layouts set in System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources.
Why does LangSwitcher need Accessibility access?
It reads the selected text by simulating Copy and replaces it by simulating Paste, which macOS allows only with Accessibility permission.
Does LangSwitcher send my text anywhere?
No. It has no network access and collects no analytics. The optional conversion log is off by default and stays on your Mac.
Can I change the shortcut?
Yes. In the Hotkey settings you can keep the double Shift or record a shortcut of your own.
Does LangSwitcher work on Apple Silicon?
Yes. There are Apple Silicon, Intel and universal downloads. It needs macOS 13 or later.
What if macOS says the app is damaged?
The release notes say to run xattr -cr /Applications/LangSwitcher.app in Terminal, then open the app again.
Where does the LangSwitcher download on langswitcher.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to the official LangSwitcher releases page on GitHub at https://github.com/reg2005/langSwitcher/releases/latest. langswitcher.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
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FULLMAC.app does not host this app. Download buttons lead to the developer’s own pages.