How Typeahead processes text locally

Typeahead makes every suggestion on your Mac, and it never sends your writing to a server. Here's what it reads, what it keeps and what it sends.

Suggestions are made on your Mac#

The AI model downloads to your Mac once, during setup, and Typeahead's own engine runs it there. Nothing waits on a server, so Typeahead works offline after setup. A plan checks your license when you're back online. Lifetime keeps working offline after setup. A monthly or yearly plan works offline after setup until 7 days after its paid-through date.

What it reads#

Typeahead reads text through the macOS Accessibility API, the same one screen readers use. It doesn't need Screen Recording.

• The text near your cursor, in the field you're typing in.
• The window you're in. While window context is on (it is by default), Typeahead reads the visible text of the window you're typing in, so a reply can pick up the names and times on screen. Switch it off for one app from the menu bar, or everywhere in Settings › Advanced.
• What you copied, only if you turn on clipboard context. It's off by default, and it skips items from password managers and text that looks like a secret.

All of it is processed on your Mac.

What it keeps#

• What it learns. Lines you write often, and the names and terms you use, are stored on your Mac. It never learns passwords, codes, card numbers, links or email addresses. See and forget any phrase in Settings › Learning, or remove everything with Clear Learned Data.
• Insights, the usage stats in Settings, counts words and keystrokes on your Mac and never records what you wrote.

There's no account, and the app has no analytics or crash-reporting service built in.

What it sends#

Typeahead processes writing locally; it goes online only to check your license, look for updates and download your AI model, and none of those requests include anything you write.

• Activation sends our license server your key, an ID for your Mac and, when it's available, its model name (like "MacBook Air"), never the name you gave your Mac.
• License checks send your key and your Mac's ID each time Typeahead starts. On Yearly or Monthly, Typeahead also checks when your Mac wakes and in the week after each paid period ends. Opening the list of Macs in Settings › License, or removing a Mac, asks our server too.
• Update checks ask our update server whether there's a new version. You can turn automatic checks off in Settings › Status.
• The model download fetches the model file once. No key or ID goes with it.

Where it stays off#

Password fields, always. Password managers, crypto wallets, finance apps and Finder, out of the box. You can also switch it off for any single app, or pause it for a while.

Check it yourself#

Run a network monitor such as Little Snitch while you type. You won't see Typeahead send your writing anywhere, only the license, update and model traffic above.

Confidential writing#

Typeahead processes your writing on your Mac, doesn't send it to our servers or anyone else's, and no one at Typeahead sees it. The email or document you type it into still goes wherever that app sends it. If you write for clients or patients, check with your compliance team before you rely on it.

More detail is in our privacy policy.