How to Use DeepL Translation in dijin: Complete API Key Guide

dijin gives you two translation engines to choose from: Apple Translation (on-device, private) and DeepL (cloud API, highest quality). This guide walks you through setting up DeepL — from getting your free API key to understanding how dijin keeps it secure.

Two Translation Paths

Before diving in, here is how the two options compare:

✗ Apple Translation

✗On-device processing

✗Free (built-in)

✗~20 languages

✗Works offline

✗Maximum privacy

✓ DeepL API

✓Cloud processing (encrypted)

✓Free tier available

✓32+ languages

✓Requires internet

✓Text only sent via TLS

🔒

Regardless of which translation engine you choose, your audio is always processed on-device by the speech engine. Only the resulting text is sent to DeepL for translation — never your voice.

Setup Guide

Create a Free DeepL Account

Go to deepl.com/pro, click "Sign up for free." Enter your email, verify it, and select the DeepL API Free plan. No credit card required.

Get Your API Key

Log in to your DeepL account. Go to Account, then API Keys. Click "Create Key" and copy it. It looks like: a1b2c3d4-e5f6-...:fx

Enter the Key in dijin

Open dijin, go to Settings, then Language. Under Translation Provider, select DeepL. Paste your API key and tap Save. dijin validates instantly.

500K chars/month

Free Tier

~100 hours of meetings

Coverage

Cost

Monthly on the 1st

Reset

The `:fx` suffix indicates a free-tier key. dijin detects this automatically and routes requests to the correct API endpoint.

How dijin Stores Your Key Securely

Your API key is protected by multiple layers:

Key Storage Flow

User enters key

Validate │◄── DeepL /v2/usage API call key online │ (confirms key is real)

Valid

iOS/macOS │◄── Hardware-encrypted storage Keychain │ No iCloud sync (device) │ No backup export

Key NEVER stored in:

✗ UserDefaults ✗ Files

✗ iCloud ✗ Our servers

✗ Analytics ✗ Logs```

Keychain encryption: Your key is stored in the iOS/macOS Keychain with `kSecAttrAccessibleAfterFirstUnlockThisDeviceOnly` — hardware-level encryption that stays on your device

No cloud sync: The key is explicitly excluded from iCloud Keychain sync

Auto-fallback: If you remove your key or it expires, dijin automatically falls back to Apple Translation

The Translation Flow

Translation Pipeline

You speak │───▶│ Speech │───▶│ Text │───▶│ DeepL (audio) │ │ ON-DEVICE│ │ (local) │ │ API

Audio NEVER Text sent via Translation

leaves device TLS (encrypted) returned

└──────────────┘```

🔑

Your voice is processed entirely on your device by the speech engine. DeepL only receives the text transcript — never audio.

Monitoring Your Usage

Indicator	Where	What Happens
Character count	Settings > Language	Real-time usage display
90% warning	Settings > Language	Indicator turns orange
Auto-fallback	Automatic	Switches to Apple Translation
Monthly reset	1st of each month	Counter resets to zero

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need a credit card for the free plan?

No. The DeepL API Free plan requires only an email address. You get 500,000 characters per month at no cost.

Q: What happens if my key is invalid or expired?

dijin validates the key when you enter it. If validation fails, the key is not saved. If a previously valid key stops working, dijin automatically falls back to Apple Translation.

Q: Can I switch between Apple and DeepL at any time?

Yes. Go to Settings, then Language, then Translation Provider and switch instantly. Your key stays stored securely until you explicitly remove it.

Q: Is my API key shared with dijin servers?

No. Your API key is stored only in your device Keychain. dijin servers never see, store, or transmit your DeepL key. The API call goes directly from your device to DeepL.