FAQ

Everything about using Seliq in one place. Tap a topic to jump to it.

Getting started

What is Seliq?

Seliq is a menu-bar app for macOS. Select some text and a small bar pops up so you can copy, search, translate and more right away. It is also compatible with PopClip extensions.

Example
Drag some text → a bar appears over the selection

Why does Seliq ask for permission the first time?

Seliq needs the Accessibility permission to read the text you select. Turn Seliq on in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility. On macOS 27 it is under “Device Control and Data Access”.

Example
System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility → turn Seliq on → drag some text and the bar appears

You get Turn Seliq on/off, Settings (⌘,), Install extension code, Open Accessibility, the version, Check for updates, License (remaining trial days and actions), Recent Sense decisions, and Quit.

Example
Click the menu-bar icon → see the remaining trial days and actions under “License”

Showing the bar

How do I show the bar?

Select text by dragging, or by double-click (a word), triple-click (a line), Shift+click, or ⌘A (select all), and the bar appears. You can also use a global shortcut set in Settings (the default is a ⌃⌥⌘ combination).

Example
Double-click a word → the word is selected and the bar appears
Triple-click a line → the whole line is selected and the bar appears
⌘A → select all, then the bar appears

I clicked a text field and got a bar with only “Paste”.

When nothing is selected and the clipboard has text, the first click on a text field shows a small bar with only “Paste”. It is skipped when you click the same field again, in password fields, and when a password manager has hidden the clipboard. You can change this in Settings › General, “Show Paste on first click in a field”.

Example
Copy some text → click an empty field in Notes → a bar with only “Paste” appears

When does the bar go away?

It disappears when you click somewhere else, press a key, or scroll.

Example
Scroll while the bar is showing → the bar disappears

Can I stop the bar from showing in certain apps?

Yes. Pick the apps to exclude in Settings.

Example
Exclude an app in Settings → selecting text in that app no longer shows the bar

Auto-copy on drag

Text gets copied just by dragging.

This is on by default. When you select text by dragging with the mouse, it is copied to the clipboard as plain text after 0.5 seconds. If you do something else in between, the copy is cancelled.

Example
Drag a sentence on a web page → 0.5 seconds later it is copied as plain text → press ⌘V elsewhere

Which selections are not auto-copied?

Selections made by double-click, Shift+click, ⌘A or the keyboard are not auto-copied. Use the Copy button on the bar for those.

Example
Double-click a word → it is not auto-copied → press the Copy button on the bar

How do I turn auto-copy off?

Turn off “Auto-copy when selecting by dragging” in Settings › General.

Example
Settings › General › turn off “Auto-copy when selecting by dragging” → dragging no longer copies

When do I see the “Copied” notice?

When the Copy button or an extension copies something, “Copied” shows for 1.6 seconds where the bar was. Auto-copy on drag has no notice, because showing it every time would be noisy.

Example
Click Copy on the bar → “Copied” appears in place of the bar for 1.6 seconds
Auto-copy on drag → copies quietly, with no notice

Customizing the bar

Where do I change how the bar looks?

In Settings › Layout, choose the bar style or the grid style (folded like 2×2) and arrange the items. You can also pick a theme and a motion (how the bar appears). Cut, Copy and Paste show as colored icons.

Example
Settings › Layout → choose the grid style → the bar folds into 2×2

How do I reorder items?

Press and hold an item on the bar, then drag it to a new place.

Example
Press and hold an item → drag it to where you want → the order changes

I want to remove an item from the bar.

Drag it out of the bar. It fades away and moves to “Off items”. This only turns it off and does not delete it, so even built-in items can be turned back on.

Example
Drag an item out of the bar → it fades away → it moves to “Off items”

I want to group items.

Add a space or a divider (|) to split the bar into groups. Drag it off the bar to remove it.

Example
Put a divider (|) between two items → the bar splits into two groups

The bar is too long to see everything.

Hover over the arrow on the right to expand it.

Example
Hover over the right arrow → the hidden items expand

Can I delete items?

Built-in actions cannot be deleted (there is no right-click menu), but extensions can be. Built-in actions can only be turned off.

Example
Drag a built-in item out of the bar → it moves to “Off items” (it is not deleted)

Extensions

Where do I get extensions?

The extension store (seliq-app.github.io/seliq-extensions) has 377 of them. Click the “Install in Seliq” button (a seliq:// link), or download one and double-click it. “Details” shows the identifier, SHA-256, “When to use it”, the version and the source.

Example
Click “Install in Seliq” in the store → the extension is installed in Seliq
Double-click a downloaded extension file → it installs

How do I install extension code?

Select a PopClip snippet (YAML/JS starting with #popclip) and Seliq offers “Install” as a ghost icon (the default) or a card. You can also use “Install extension code” in the menu-bar menu. Choose between the ghost icon and the card in Settings.

Example
Drag the snippet below → ghost icon → “Install” → a Naver Search extension appears
#popclip
name: Naver Search
icon: N
url: https://search.naver.com/search.naver?query=***

How many extensions can the free version use?

Up to 3. If you add more than 3, Seliq asks you to delete one first. The trial and Pro have no limit.

Example
Add a 4th extension → a prompt asks you to delete one and then add it

Are there Seliq-only extensions?

Yes: Naver English, Korean, Hanja, Japanese and English-English dictionaries, and Naver Papago.

Example
Drag an English word → look up its meaning with the Naver English dictionary extension

I am moving over from PopClip.

When you double-click a PopClip extension file, Seliq shows a “Use Seliq as the default app” prompt so it can open the file. Just follow it.

Example
Double-click a PopClip extension file → the “Use Seliq as the default app” prompt → follow it and the file opens in Seliq

Can I change where Seliq searches?

Yes. In Settings › General, “Search with”, choose from Google (the default), Naver, Daum, DuckDuckGo, Duck.ai, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok and Perplexity.

Example
Settings › General › set “Search with” to Naver → the Search button searches on Naver

How do I search somewhere else just once?

Hold ⌥ and click the Search button on the bar to pick a place for this one time only. For places that cannot take the search text in the address, Seliq copies the text, opens the site and tells you “Just paste”.

Example
Hold ⌥ and click Search → pick a place → it searches there this one time

Can I make a button that searches another site?

⌥-click the Search button to open the list of places to search, shown as color buttons. Press “+ Somewhere else” at the end and type a site name, and ChatGPT makes an extension that searches that site. Check the code and install it: it appears in the list right away and searches the text you selected.

Only search extensions can be made here. If it isn’t a search, the search address can’t be found, or the site needs a login, Seliq tells you why and doesn’t make it. For things other than search, use “+” on the sparkling bar. This needs the ChatGPT connection. ChatGPT features are available while subscribed or during the free trial.

Example
“+ Somewhere else” → Wikipedia → a Wikipedia search extension → installed and added to the list right away
“+ Somewhere else” → set a timer → “This can’t be made: it isn’t a search”

Can I open a link or search in the background?

Hold Shift while you click and it opens in the background. This works for both opening links and searching.

Example
Hold Shift and click Search → the results open in the background

Sense (AI) mode

Sense is available with a subscription or during the free trial (14 days or 300 actions, whichever lasts longer). With Sense off, the regular bar works as before.

What is Sense mode?

When it is on, Seliq looks at the text you select and suggests a fitting button with a sparkle, only when it is needed. The basic philosophy is to show up as little as possible and only when it is sure.

Example
Select a link → an “Open link” button is suggested with a sparkle
Select ordinary text → Seliq stays quiet

Which buttons show when I drag?

Seliq shows the basic buttons (Cut, Search, Copy, Paste), and puts a sparkling button first when it has a suggestion. If you turn off “Show basic buttons when dragging” in Settings › Sense, it stays quiet and only shows the call dot.

Double-clicking a word or triple-clicking a line shows the same basic buttons. You can turn this off separately with “Show basic buttons on double-click too” in Settings › Sense (on by default).

Example
Drag → the 4 basic buttons, plus a sparkling button in front when there is a suggestion
Double-click a word: serendipity → Cut · Search · Copy · Paste (Search · Copy only in read-only text)

What is the small dot (•) that shows at the end?

It is the call dot. When there is nothing to suggest, a small dot shows 0.6 seconds after you finish selecting and fades after 5 seconds. Hover over it or click it to get the usual bar. Set it in Settings › Sense, “Show call dot”.

Example
Drag ordinary text → a small dot • after 0.6 seconds → click it to get the usual bar

How do I get the regular bar right away with Sense on?

Hold ⌥ while selecting, or press ⌘A, and the regular bar appears. You can also set apps to “Always bar”.

Example
Hold ⌥ and drag → the regular bar appears right away

Does it calculate or convert units?

When the Mac can answer right away, Seliq shows the answer as a chip. It knows calculations, color codes, units, time zones and character counts. Click the chip to replace the selection with the answer or copy it.

Example
Drag: 12 × 7 → Sense shows a = 84 chip
Drag: #FF6B35 → a color preview chip
Drag: 5 ft → a chip converted to cm
Drag: 3:00 PM PST → a chip in Korean time
Drag any text → a character-count chip

What happens when I select sensitive text?

The guardian steps in. If the text has a card number, an API key, a private key or a national ID number, Seliq turns off the buttons that send text out (search, links, AI extensions) and suggests “Mask”.

Example
Drag a card number → search, link and AI extension buttons are turned off and “Mask” is suggested

How does Sense tell what text is without the internet?

The Mac judge recognizes the kind of text and picks a fitting button. Ordinary text in your own language is left alone.

Example
Drag a link only → Open link
Drag an email address → Mail / Contacts
Drag a phone number 010-… → Contacts
Drag an address → Maps
Drag a tracking number → Track package
Drag a single word → Dictionary
Drag a sentence not in your language → Translate
Drag code or JSON → Developer tools
Drag only a date or time → Calendar
Drag ordinary text in your language → stays quiet

How does it tell a phone number from a bank account number?

Numbers have several possible readings (phone, account, calculation, date and so on). Seliq gives each reading an evidence score and goes with the most certain one. If they are close, it treats the text as unclear.

Example
Drag 3333-01-1234567 → Sense recognizes a bank account number
Drag 010-2345-6789 → phone number
Drag 12/29 → not certain

What if there is no matching extension?

When Seliq is sure of the intent but has no matching extension, a “+” shows on the sparkling bar. Click it to install a store extension and run it right away, or describe what you want in “What do you want to do with this text?” to have an extension made (ChatGPT required). After you check the code and install, it runs right away. ChatGPT features are available while subscribed or during the free trial.

Example
Click “+” on the sparkling bar → “What do you want to do with this text?” → “Shall I make an extension?” → check the code and install → it runs right away

Does Sense learn my habits?

Yes, but only on this Mac. It records only which button you pressed for which kind of text in which app, never the text itself. Buttons you press often are suggested better, and buttons you ignore show less. In Settings › Sense you can turn off “Learn my usage habits”, see the “What Sense has learned” list, or “Clear what it learned”.

Example
You often press the same button for the same kind of text in an app → Seliq suggests it more accurately
Settings › Sense › “Clear what it learned” → the learned records are erased

Can I see why Sense decided something?

Open “Recent Sense decisions” in the menu-bar menu to see the last 20. Each shows the time, app, result and reason, and the text itself is not stored. You can erase them with “Clear history”.

Example
Menu-bar icon › “Recent Sense decisions” → the last 20 with time, app, result and reason

Can the intents Seliq finds be shown as round buttons?

Yes. In Sense mode, every intent found in the selected text can appear as a round button around the bar. The most certain one sparkles first, then candidates (slightly dimmed), and intents that need a closer look last (dashed outline). Hover for the name; click to run the matching extension, or to find or make one if you have none. In Settings › Sense, “Show found intents as round buttons” turns them on or off, and “Intent button layout” offers three looks: “Surround” (around the bar, with + beside it), “Flow down” (rows under the bar, + as a small badge on the corner) and “Drawer below” (a rounded drawer under the bar).

Example
Settings · Settings › Sense › Intent button layout → Surround / Flow down / Drawer below
Turn off · Settings › Sense › turn off “Show found intents as round buttons”

ChatGPT connection

What is the ChatGPT connection?

It is a developer feature and is off by default. Seliq sends only text the Mac cannot decide on its own to ChatGPT for a judgment. Sensitive text is never sent. The answer arrives after 2–4 seconds, and if the same text is still selected, it shows as a sparkling bar. ChatGPT features are available while subscribed or during the free trial.

Example
Drag unclear text → 2–4 seconds later, if the selection is the same, a sparkling button appears

How do I connect ChatGPT?

In Settings › Sense, turn on “Decide with ChatGPT” and agree, then click “Sign in to ChatGPT”. When the browser opens, sign in with your own account. The token is kept only in this Mac’s Keychain. ChatGPT features are available while subscribed or during the free trial. You can sign in to ChatGPT in advance even on Seliq’s free version, so everything works right away once you subscribe.

Example
Settings › Sense › turn on “Decide with ChatGPT” → agree → “Sign in to ChatGPT” → sign in in the browser

What if I get signed out?

Seliq renews the sign-in automatically when it expires. If that fails, it asks you to “Please sign in again”. You can “Sign out” any time.

Example
“Please sign in again” notice → click “Sign in to ChatGPT” again

Can I make my own extension with ChatGPT?

Yes. In Settings › Extensions, type the extension you want in plain words and click “Make it”. ChatGPT makes it for you, you read the code, try it on a sample text, and install it. Only the sentence you typed is sent to ChatGPT (OpenAI), never the text you select. Requests that need shell scripts, file access, logins or payments are refused with a reason. ChatGPT features are available while subscribed or during the free trial.

Example
Can be made · “Change the selected text to uppercase” → make, try, install
Refused · “Log in to my bank and show the balance” → “I can’t make this: it needs a login, an API key or a payment”

Updates & license

How do I check for updates?

Click “Check for updates” in the menu-bar menu. Seliq tells you if there is a new version and shows a download link.

Example
Menu-bar icon › “Check for updates” → a new-version notice and a download link

Can I use it for free?

You start with a free trial, and the remaining days and actions show in the menu-bar menu. After the trial you can keep using the free version (up to 3 extensions). For more, there are Pro (one-time purchase) and the subscription — $3.99 a month or $29 a year, with all Pro features plus Sense and AI features. See the Pricing page for prices.

Free covers all built-in actions and up to 3 extensions (installing from the store included). All of Sense (the Mac classifier, intent buttons, basic buttons, learning your habits and ChatGPT) is available only while subscribed or during the free trial, and with Sense off the regular bar works as before. Pro (one-time purchase) adds more than 3 extensions, themes, motion and effects, grid layout, iCloud sync and batch install, but does not include Sense or AI features. Sense and AI features (ChatGPT judging and making extensions) are for subscribers, and the free trial lets you try everything. You sign in with your own ChatGPT account, and ChatGPT usage follows your ChatGPT plan.

Example
Menu-bar icon › “License” → remaining trial days and actions

What is the difference between yearly and monthly?

The features are the same. Yearly is $29 a year, about 39% cheaper than paying $3.99 a month for 12 months ($47.88), so you save $18.88. If you cancel, you can keep using it until the end of the period you paid for. Refunds follow the usual rule: ask within 14 days of your first payment and you get it back in full.

Example
Yearly $29 vs. monthly $3.99 × 12 = $47.88 → you save $18.88

What if the price changes?

Prices can change with the policies of the AI provider. We tell you 30 days before, and the change does not apply to a period you have already paid for. You can cancel any time.

Example
Price change → notice 30 days ahead → the period you already paid for stays the same

Privacy

Does Seliq store the text I select?

No, it does not. (Debug mode is a developer-only exception.)

Example
Select and copy or search → the text is not kept in Seliq

Where are the habit and decision records?

Only on this Mac. They do not leave it.

Example
“Clear what it learned” / “Clear history” → the records on this Mac are erased

When does Sense use the internet to decide?

Only after you turn on the ChatGPT judgment and agree. Even then, sensitive text is left out. See the Privacy Policy for details. ChatGPT features are available while subscribed or during the free trial.

Example
You have not agreed → no text goes to ChatGPT
Select a card number → it is not sent, even if you agreed

Troubleshooting

The bar does not show.

  • Check the Accessibility permission. After updating the app, try turning it off and on again.
  • Check in the menu bar that Seliq is turned on.
  • Check that the app is not in the excluded apps.
Example
System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility → turn Seliq off and on again

Seliq cannot seem to read text in some apps.

In some apps, such as web pages, where the text cannot be read directly, Seliq briefly reads it with ⌘C and then puts the clipboard back as it was.

Example
Drag on a web page → Seliq briefly reads the text with ⌘C → the clipboard is restored

Two bars show when I use it with PopClip.

When both run, the two bars can overlap. Turn one of them off.

Example
Turn PopClip off → only the Seliq bar shows

Double-clicking an extension file gives an error.

The default app needs to be set to Seliq. Follow the prompt that appears.

Example
Double-click an extension file → error → set the default app to Seliq as prompted → double-click again