RuVi

Download RuVi

A desktop app. Updates itself, server address built in.

RuVi is a desktop app. Open this page on your computer to download it. A mobile version is on the way.

Installing on Windows

  1. 1

    Install the free VB-Audio Virtual Cable and restart your computer. You only need to do this once: the virtual cable is how the translation gets into your call.

  2. 2

    Download RuVi and run the downloaded file.

  3. 3

    Sign up or sign in, and record a sample of your voice.

Installing on macOS

  1. 1

    Install the free BlackHole 2ch — a virtual microphone that carries the translation to the other person. On macOS older than 14.2 (Sonoma), also install BlackHole 16ch from the same page: it lets the app hear the other person.

  2. 2

    Download the zip, unpack it and drag RuVi into Applications.

  3. 3

    Launch RuVi. The app isn't signed by Apple yet, so macOS will block it: open System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway. You only need to do this once.

  4. 4

    Allow microphone access. On macOS 14.2 and later, also allow system audio recording — this is how the app hears the other person.

  5. 5

    Sign in with the same email and password as on the website.

  6. 6

    In your call (Zoom, Google Meet, Telegram, etc.), select BlackHole 2ch as the microphone.

How the app works on a Mac

  • RuVi has no Dock icon: the app runs in the background and opens the translator window in your browser — Google Chrome works best, Edge, Brave and Chromium work too.
  • The app updates itself.

Installing on Linux

  1. 1

    Download the AppImage file.

  2. 2

    Make it executable: tick “Allow executing file as program” in the file's properties, or run chmod +x in a terminal.

  3. 3

    Run the file. On Steam Deck — in Desktop Mode.

Supported Linux systems

SystemVersions
Steam Deck (SteamOS 3, Desktop Mode)3.x
Ubuntu22.04 and later
Linux Mint21 and later
Debian (GNOME, KDE)12 and later
Fedora36 and later
RHEL, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux9 and later
Pop!_OS22.04 and later
openSUSE Leap15.6 and later
openSUSE Tumbleweedcurrent releases

Other distributions

RuVi may also work on other systems that meet the requirements below. This isn't guaranteed.

  • glibc 2.34 or later
  • Audio via PipeWire or PulseAudio (requires pactl, parec and pacat from pulseaudio-utils — usually installed by default)
  • Google Chrome, Chromium, Brave or Edge — the translator window opens in it

You'll also need

  • Headphones

    The app picks up the other person's audio from your headphones. With speakers, translation works worse because of echo.

  • Microphone

    Built into your laptop or headset — any will do.

  • Internet

    Translation runs on the server, so you need a stable connection.