Open full sizeCapture anything visible
Select a region and Xerolas starts working beside your screen.
DESKTOP AIFree public installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux
See Anything.
Understand Everything.
Across your whole desktop.
Xerolas brings AI-powered screen intelligence to your entire desktop.
Select any region on your screen from any app, any window, anywhere, and get an instant answer with your own API key or a Xerolas Cloud key.
Free public downloads · BYOK or Xerolas Cloud setup · Works on Windows, macOS & Linux
Any
app or window
1
shortcut to capture
3
desktop platforms
2
setup paths
xerolas — desktop capture flow
Hotkey → select region → answer beside itWatch Xerolas in action
Product preview
From screenshot to answer,
without leaving your desktop.
These are real Xerolas captures: select a screen region, get an answer beside it, then ask follow-up questions or switch modes on the same capture.
Open full size01
Open full sizeAnswer beside the selection
Keep the original context open while the result streams in.
Open full sizeAsk follow-ups in place
Turn the bottom prompt into an inline question box.
Open full sizeControl answer shape
Ask for a short answer, summary, explanation, or exact format.
Open full sizeTranslate what you see
Use the same capture flow for translation and text-heavy screens.
Download Xerolas
Free public installers,
ready now.
Install Xerolas on Windows, macOS, or Linux and start using desktop-wide AI screen intelligence right away. On Ubuntu, use the App Center / Snap Store install for the cleanest experience.
Latest public release
v0.1.37
Free public downloads · No account required · Snap recommended for Ubuntu/Linux
Download for Windows→
Xerolas-Setup-0.1.37.exe
Download for macOS→
Xerolas-0.1.37-arm64.dmg
Linux App Center→
Recommended for Ubuntu · Snap Store / App Center
Manual Linux packages→
AppImage and .deb builds from GitHub Releases
✓ Public GitHub release assets✓ Silent auto-update feed included✓ Windows, macOS, and Snap/App Center builds✓ Feedback through GitHub Issues
Setup
Choose how Xerolas
connects to AI.
Xerolas is open source and safe to inspect. You can bring your own provider key, or use an optional Xerolas Cloud platform key for a simpler managed path.
Bring your own key
1
Use the provider account you already trust.
Add your own Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, or OpenRouter key in Settings. Xerolas stores it locally with OS encryption when available and sends captures directly to that provider.
1Open Settings
2Choose your provider
3Paste your API key
4Save or Test
Xerolas Cloud
2
Use a simple platform key from Xerolas.
Paste an opaque xlo_live_... key issued by Xerolas. The Cloud gateway checks quota, rate limits usage, and uses managed AI providers behind the scenes.
1Request a key
2Choose Xerolas Cloud
3Paste the platform key
4Track quota and expiry
Xerolas Cloud keys are shown only once, should not be shared publicly, and can be revoked or replaced if leaked. Quota, remaining usage, and expiration are handled by the hosted gateway.
The problem
Browser lens tools are useful. But they're stuck inside the browser.
You're working in VS Code, Figma, Notion, Slack, Excel, or a PDF and you want to understand something on your screen. Without Xerolas, you switch apps, take a screenshot, open a browser tab, upload the image, and wait. Xerolas fixes that with one shortcut, any window, and an instant answer beside your capture.
0
shortcut
0
desktop platforms
0
access modes
0
local history items
How it works
Three steps.
That's it.
Capture, understand, and move on without switching apps or uploading files by hand.
Press the shortcut
Hit Ctrl+Shift+Space from anywhere on your desktop, whether you are in your editor, browser, design tool, terminal, or a document.
Select any region
A full-screen overlay appears so you can drag across any area of any window: code, an error message, a chart, a design, or a block of text.
Get your answer instantly
Xerolas analyzes the selected region and can add live web context when the answer needs current information. When web search is used, source links appear in the result panel.
Keep the answer alongside your capture
The result panel appears beside the selected region so you can read, copy, dismiss, or rerun the same capture through a different mode without repeating the screenshot.
Works System-Wide
Not just inside a browser tab.
Xerolas works across every app and window on your desktop: VS Code, Figma, Chrome, Excel, Slack, terminals, PDFs, and more.
- Capture from any app without changing focus
- Trigger the overlay with one global shortcut
- Ask about anything visible on your screen
desktop-context · active windows
VS CodeExplain code selection
FigmaAnalyze layout region
ChromeSummarize article block
TerminalExplain stack trace
BYOK Or Cloud
Choose the access path that fits you.
Add your own provider key, or paste a Xerolas Cloud platform key issued from Xerolas. Either way, the desktop app never ships a public provider secret.
- No file upload flow or manual screenshot export
- BYOK keys stay local; Cloud provider secrets stay server-side
- Runs from the tray and stays ready in the background
setup-checklist · local control
Xerolas accountNo
BYOK API keyOptional
Xerolas Cloud keyOptional
Manual uploadsNo
Desktop installYes
Capture from any appYes
Prompt Modes
Tell it what to do with each capture.
Describe what is visible, extract text, explain code, translate, summarize, or answer the most useful question implied by what you selected.
- Quick actions tuned for common screen tasks
- Reusable capture history for the last 10 results
- Silent updates and background-ready desktop flow
$xerolas modes
AI Overview
Extract text
Explain code
Translate
Summarize
Ask question
Use cases
What will you use
Xerolas for?
From debugging and OCR to translation and visual explanation, Xerolas is built for whatever is already on your screen.
See an unfamiliar function, a stack trace, or confusing terminal output? Select it and ask Xerolas to explain it without leaving your editor.
DV
Developers
Explain code instantly
Capture any interface, layout, or component and get an AI breakdown of what it is, how it works, or how to recreate it.
DS
Designers
Describe and analyze UI
Reading a dense PDF, a chart, or a foreign-language article? Select the section and let Xerolas explain, summarize, or translate it.
SR
Students & Researchers
Understand anything on screen
See an unfamiliar function, a stack trace, or confusing terminal output? Select it and ask Xerolas to explain it without leaving your editor.
DV
Developers
Explain code instantly
Capture any interface, layout, or component and get an AI breakdown of what it is, how it works, or how to recreate it.
DS
Designers
Describe and analyze UI
Reading a dense PDF, a chart, or a foreign-language article? Select the section and let Xerolas explain, summarize, or translate it.
SR
Students & Researchers
Understand anything on screen
See an unfamiliar function, a stack trace, or confusing terminal output? Select it and ask Xerolas to explain it without leaving your editor.
DV
Developers
Explain code instantly
Capture any interface, layout, or component and get an AI breakdown of what it is, how it works, or how to recreate it.
DS
Designers
Describe and analyze UI
Reading a dense PDF, a chart, or a foreign-language article? Select the section and let Xerolas explain, summarize, or translate it.
SR
Students & Researchers
Understand anything on screen
Capture text from anywhere on screen, even from non-selectable UI or images, and turn it into clean copy you can reuse.
WM
Writers & Marketers
Extract and repurpose content
See something confusing on your screen and want to know what it is? Just select it and ask Xerolas.
GU
General Users
Answer visual questions
Capture text from anywhere on screen, even from non-selectable UI or images, and turn it into clean copy you can reuse.
WM
Writers & Marketers
Extract and repurpose content
See something confusing on your screen and want to know what it is? Just select it and ask Xerolas.
GU
General Users
Answer visual questions
Capture text from anywhere on screen, even from non-selectable UI or images, and turn it into clean copy you can reuse.
WM
Writers & Marketers
Extract and repurpose content
See something confusing on your screen and want to know what it is? Just select it and ask Xerolas.
GU
General Users
Answer visual questions
Features
Everything you need.
Nothing you don't.
Xerolas stays focused on one job: helping you understand anything visible on your screen as quickly as possible.
Desktop
Works system-wide
Use Xerolas across every app and window on your desktop, not just inside one browser tab.
→ capture active in VS Code
→ chart selected from PDF
→ UI region captured from Figma
→ answer panel opened beside selection
→ copied result without leaving app
Fast
One global shortcut
Press Ctrl+Shift+Space from anywhere to start a capture without hunting for the app window.
No upload required
The selected region is captured natively and sent directly for analysis without a manual file picker.
4
setup modes
Configurable prompts
Describe, extract text, explain code, translate, summarize, or answer the most useful question from the selected region.
history[0] = last capture
history[1] = previous result
history[2] = extracted text
history[3] = translated block
history.limit = 10
Local
Capture history
Your last 10 captures and results stay available locally so you can re-open them without repeating the capture.
$ xerolas modes
✓ AI Overview
✓ Extract text
✓ Explain code
✓ Translate
✓ Summarize
✓ Ask question
Automatic
Silent updates
Xerolas checks for updates in the background so the installed desktop app stays current without manual downloads each time.
Comparison
Xerolas vs browser lens tools
Browser lens tools are useful inside one tab. Xerolas brings that same kind of screen understanding to the whole desktop.
Works in Chrome
Browser lens: Yes
Xerolas: Yes
Works in VS Code
Browser lens: No
Xerolas: Yes
Works in Figma
Browser lens: No
Xerolas: Yes
Works system-wide
Browser lens: No
Xerolas: Yes
Global keyboard shortcut
Browser lens: No
Xerolas: Yes
No upload required
Browser lens: No
Xerolas: Yes
User-chosen AI provider
Browser lens: No
Xerolas: Yes
Windows support
Browser lens: No
Xerolas: Yes
macOS support
Browser lens: No
Xerolas: Yes
Linux support
Browser lens: No
Xerolas: Yes
Configurable AI prompts
Browser lens: No
Xerolas: Yes
Local capture history
Browser lens: No
Xerolas: Yes
Built for desktop-wide capture, not just one browser tab
FAQ
Frequently asked
questions.
Yes. Xerolas is free to download and install through the current public release flow. Your AI provider may have its own usage limits or billing rules.
Yes. Use either your own provider API key or a Xerolas Cloud platform key. Add it once in Settings, then capture from anywhere on your desktop.
It is an opaque xlo_live_... platform key issued by Xerolas. It unlocks the managed Xerolas Cloud path, where quota and abuse controls run on the gateway and managed AI providers work behind the scenes.
No. BYOK keys stay encrypted locally when your OS supports it, and Xerolas Cloud provider secrets stay server-side. The app only stores the platform key you paste into Settings.
Only the region you explicitly select is sent for analysis. Xerolas is not continuously monitoring your desktop, and your local history stays on your device.
Xerolas uses cloud AI vision models for screenshot understanding and answer generation.
Yes. Xerolas is built for Windows, macOS, and Linux through the current desktop release pipeline.
Xerolas checks for updates in the background and uses the bundled update feed from the public GitHub release channel.
Yes, when you explicitly enable it in Settings and the selected provider supports it. When search is used, Xerolas shows source links in the result panel.
Yes. Xerolas includes quick actions like AI Overview, Extract text, Explain code, Translate, Summarize, and Ask question so you can steer what happens to each capture.
No. Xerolas captures the selected screen region natively and sends it directly for analysis, so there is no manual file upload step.
Download now
Install Xerolas.
Then understand anything on your screen.
The public installers are live, the desktop app is ready for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and setup works with your own API key or a Xerolas Cloud platform key.
✓ Public download links✓ BYOK or Xerolas Cloud setup✓ Windows, macOS, Linux builds✓ Desktop-wide AI capture