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Common Issues (FAQ)

1) Do I still need to pay after buying the app?​

Yes, think of costs in two layers:

  • You purchase a Mask app license (one-time).
  • Model usage is billed separately by your selected third-party provider and is not included in the app price.

If you want to confirm whether you are using the Mac App Store build or the Creem build, check it in the app at: Settings > System > Billing & License > Distribution Channel

See: Purchase Notes

2) Why does the app say my API key is invalid?​

Check in this order:

  1. Make sure the key was pasted without extra spaces.
  2. Confirm the model is enabled in the provider console.
  3. Confirm your account has available quota/balance.
  4. Confirm endpoint and model name are configured correctly.

3) API key is set, but translation returns nothing​

Common causes:

  • Network is unreachable or blocked by regional restrictions.
  • Your account is rate-limited.
  • The provider is temporarily unavailable.

Try a smaller region first, then inspect app logs for exact error codes.

4) OCR misses text or is incomplete​

Optimization tips:

  • Use tighter selection and avoid including noisy backgrounds/avatars/UI effects.
  • Zoom in for small text before recognition.
  • Process long content in segments for better stability.

5) Translation feels unnatural or incoherent​

Suggestions:

  • Include surrounding sentences in your selection for more context.
  • Use a model better at long-context understanding.
  • Build your own terminology preferences and review key sentences.

6) Overlay position drifts or looks misaligned​

Please check:

  • Frequent changes in display scaling or resolution.
  • Fast scrolling/zooming/layout changes in target windows.
  • Update to latest version and restart before retesting.

7) Where does my data go?​

  • API keys and history are stored locally by default.
  • Mask servers do not retain sessions or API keys.
  • When using third-party models, data is sent to the selected provider and processed under its policy.

See: Data & Privacy

8) How to quickly tell local issues from provider-side issues?​

A practical approach:

  1. Keep the same content and switch to another provider.
  2. If only one provider fails, it is usually provider quota/risk-control/network-chain related.
  3. If all providers fail, check local permissions, network, and app version first.

9) What should I include when reporting unresolved issues?​

Please include:

  • Device model and OS version
  • Mask version
  • Provider and model name
  • Key error messages (redacted if needed)
  • Reproducibility and reproduction steps

If you are unsure which channel to use, see: Contact the Author