> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cherryai.com.cn/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cherryai.com.cn/docs/en-us/cherry-studio/preview/selection-assistant.md).

# Selection Assistant

Selection Assistant lets you, in **any app, select text** and then use the floating toolbar to call AI for translation, explanation, optimization, summarization, and more, without needing to paste the content back into Cherry Studio.

{% hint style="info" %}
**and** [**Quick Assistant**](/docs/en-us/cherry-studio/preview/quick-assistant.md) **Difference**:

* **Quick Assistant**: Use a global shortcut to bring up a **actively input** window, where you type your question
* **Text selection assistant**: after selecting text, **for the selected content** a toolbar pops up to execute preset actions with one click
  {% endhint %}

### Platform support

* ✅ **macOS**: Fully supported, but on first enable you must grant **Accessibility permission**
* ✅ **Windows**: Fully supported, no special permissions required
* ⚠️ **Linux**: Fully supported only in **X11** mode; in Wayland mode, the toolbar may not be able to position itself following the selected text. You also need to add the current user to the `input` group (`sudo usermod -aG input $USER`) to obtain keyboard listening permission

### Enable Selection Assistant

Open \[Settings] → \[Selection Assistant]:

<figure><img src="https://1658303467-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0Ut5BptC3t8CtSU1UWpM%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e9a35150d2021b1b599a48f431c12174bc65ce40%2Fcherry-selection-assistant.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption><p>Selection Assistant settings panel</p></figcaption></figure>

1. After opening **Enabled** Switch
2. **macOS** When users enable it for the first time, a pop-up requests **Accessibility permission**:

   <figure><img src="https://1658303467-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0Ut5BptC3t8CtSU1UWpM%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-120588d64a41612ada1cfb9b45e378987047a64a%2Fcherry-selection-accessibility-dialog.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption><p>Accessibility permission prompt on first enable</p></figcaption></figure>

   Click **Go to Settings** → In the pop-up \[System Settings] → \[Privacy & Security] → \[Accessibility], find Cherry Studio and turn on the switch → go back to Cherry Studio and enable it again.
3. (Optional) In \[Toolbar] → \[Word Selection Method], choose the trigger mode (options vary by platform):
   * **Selection**: After selecting text, the toolbar pops up immediately (default)
   * **Ctrl key**(Windows only): after selecting text, **then press and hold the Ctrl key** before it pops up (to avoid accidental triggers)
   * **Shortcuts**: after selecting text, press a shortcut key to pop it up; change the shortcut in \[Settings] → \[Shortcuts]

<figure><img src="https://1658303467-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0Ut5BptC3t8CtSU1UWpM%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a4ed15b4c8a2cbacd6d05a6421a45b8b50b5dbc2%2Fcherry-selection-toolbar-settings.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption><p>Settings panel after enabling: word selection method / compact mode / follow toolbar...</p></figcaption></figure>

### Built-in actions

Selection Assistant provides 7 built-in actions,**5 enabled by default**: Translate / Explain / Summarize / Search / Copy. The **Cherry icon on the left of the toolbar is not an action button**— it is only the drag handle for the toolbar; hold it to move the entire toolbar.

| Action          | Enabled by default | Purpose                                                                                                                                           |
| --------------- | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Translation** | ✅                  | Smart translation: prioritize translating into the target language; if it is already in the target language, translate into the fallback language |
| **Explain**     | ✅                  | Have AI explain this content                                                                                                                      |
| **Summarize**   | ✅                  | Have AI summarize the selected content in one paragraph                                                                                           |
| **Search**      | ✅                  | Use the selected text to query a search engine (Google by default; can be changed via ⋯ on the right of each item)                                |
| **Copy**        | ✅                  | Copy selected text                                                                                                                                |
| **Optimize**    | To be enabled      | Have AI rewrite it to be smoother / more professional; needs to be dragged into the enabled area in settings                                      |
| **Quote**       | To be enabled      | Send the selected text to the current conversation as a quote; needs to be dragged into the enabled area in settings                              |

<figure><img src="https://1658303467-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0Ut5BptC3t8CtSU1UWpM%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8a0b2431eca76cf6f2ea85ac40f55d21bbb8a6dc%2Fcherry-selection-actions-list.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption><p>In the settings panel's [Functions] section: enabled items are above; drag items from the temporary area below to the top to enable them</p></figcaption></figure>

### Custom actions

In \[Settings] → \[Selection Assistant] → \[Functions], you can:

* **Edit** the prompt text of built-in actions
* **Add** custom actions (name + prompt + default model)
* **Drag and drop** adjust the order of actions in the toolbar
* drag infrequently used actions to the temporary area below to 'disable' them

### Toolbar / result window appearance

Toolbar:

* **Compact mode**: only icons are shown, no text, saving screen space

Result window (section \[Function Window]):

* **Follow toolbar**: the window pops up attached to the toolbar (enabled by default); if turned off, it is always centered
* **Remember size**: the window size manually adjusted this time will be retained next time
* **Auto-close**: click outside the window to close it
* **Always on top**: always floats above other apps
* **Opacity**: adjustable from 20%–100%

### Search engine

The built-in \[Search] action in Selection Assistant can use preset engines (Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, etc.). The configuration entry is in \[Settings] → \[Selection Assistant] → \[Functions]: find **Search** this item, click the gear icon at the far right of the row to open the \[Set Search Engine] dialog, where you can choose from presets or add a custom engine; use `{{queryString}}` to indicate the search term location.

### App filtering (advanced)

Can be set in \[Settings] → \[Selection Assistant] → \[Advanced] → \[App Filtering] **blacklist / whitelist**, so Selection Assistant only takes effect in specified apps (whitelist) or does not pop up in specified apps (blacklist).

* **macOS**: enter the app's Bundle ID (e.g. `com.google.Chrome`,`com.apple.mail`)
* **Windows**: enter the app's executable filename (e.g. `chrome.exe`,`Cherry Studio.exe`)

### Models used

Selection Assistant uses by default [global default chat model](/docs/en-us/pre-basic/settings/default-models.md), and you can also specify a separate model for each action.

### Tips and tricks

* If the toolbar does not appear on macOS, check whether Cherry Studio is checked in \[System Settings] → \[Privacy & Security] → \[Accessibility]
* If the toolbar pops up too often because you accidentally selected text, switch to **Ctrl key** trigger mode
* If the toolbar icons are too many and crowd the screen, enable **Compact mode**
* Want to do chained actions like 'read aloud directly after translation'? Copy the 'Translate' result and then call [Quick Assistant](/docs/en-us/cherry-studio/preview/quick-assistant.md) Continue processing

***

### Get help and submit feedback

If you encounter any questions, bugs, or have suggestions for feature improvements during configuration or use, please refer to [Feedback and Suggestions](/docs/en-us/question-contact/suggestions.md) for the official channels provided.


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