Changelog

What’s new.

Release history for Apple-silicon Macs on macOS 26 or later. Get the latest release here or choose Check for Updates in zRead.

1. 1.17.0

   Build 44

   15 October 2026

   Ready when you are.

   Launch is about twice as fast, the first sentence starts sooner after a break, and the app holds onto less memory between reads. Cloud timing still depends on your voice, model, network, and provider.

   • Hear the first sentence sooner. zRead keeps its ElevenLabs connection warm with small keyless requests — no API key or text is sent — and opens each read with just the first sentence or two, then continues with longer passages and context. Every selected word is preserved.
   • Launch without the wait. The audio engine, reading pill, and updater now prepare in the background a few seconds after zRead is ready, instead of during launch. Measured time to ready roughly halved on the development Mac.
   • Lighter between reads. Buffered audio storage is returned after each read, response caps scale to each passage, and the optional Chrome bridge only starts when video pausing is on.
   • Steadier starts at speed. Media pausing now overlaps the first synthesis request, and the startup audio cushion holds the same audible length at 2.5× and 3×. Your voice, model, speed, and media-pause choices stay in place.

2. 1.16.0

   Build 43

   10 October 2026

   Less waiting. More reading.

   A lighter launch and shorter opening passages help narration start sooner. Cloud timing still depends on your voice, model, network, and provider.

   • Get ready sooner. Settings, setup windows, and Mac speech initialize when needed, keeping the launch focused on the reading shortcut.
   • Start with the opening passage. ElevenLabs receives a shorter first passage, then longer passages with context for continuous reading. Every selected word is preserved. Longer reads may use one additional synthesis request.
   • Capture with fewer round trips. Accessibility checks are combined, and a cold browser can finish recovery as soon as its selection is verified. Protected fields retain the same safeguards.
   • Play the first audio sooner. zRead schedules the initial audio reserve before playback, then fills the regular queue. Your voice, model, speed, and media-pause choices stay in place.

3. 1.15.0

   Build 42

   30 September 2026

   Your video can wait.

   An optional Chrome companion pauses approved videos while zRead narrates. Setup and website approval are required.

   • Make room for the voice. After setup, zRead pauses supported Chrome videos, including ordinary YouTube videos and videos in background tabs, just before ElevenLabs or Mac Voice narration starts. Safari, live streams, calls, and audio outside standard website media playback are outside this feature.
   • Pick up where you left off. When narration pauses, stops, or finishes, zRead resumes unchanged videos it paused. Seeking, changing playback, or leaving the page gives control back to you.
   • Set up once. Approve each website.. Browser pausing is off by default. Prepare the Chrome connection in zRead’s General Settings, load the bundled companion as an unpacked extension using Chrome’s developer mode, and approve each video website in the companion. It is not a Chrome Web Store extension.
   • Release media when audio fails. If ElevenLabs playback fails while a read is still downloading, zRead promptly gives paused media back instead of waiting for another network event.

4. 1.14.0

   Build 41

   28 September 2026

   Make room for reading.

   Optionally pause Apple Music and Spotify while zRead narrates, with either ElevenLabs or Mac Voice.

   • Music waits while you read. Turn on Pause other media while reading in General Settings. zRead pauses supported players just before narration starts, leaving browser audio and calls alone.
   • Resume what zRead paused. When you pause, stop, or finish a read, zRead resumes eligible music it paused. If zRead detects a track change, seeking, or a player restart, it leaves that player alone.
   • Access is your choice. The feature is off by default. Choose Apple Music, Spotify, or both, and grant each player Automation access from Settings.
   • Pause stays paused. Recovering from an audio-device change now preserves a paused read’s state.

5. 1.13.1

   Build 40

   28 September 2026

   Quicker off the mark.

   Narration starts sooner, especially with AirPods, and zRead uses about half as much CPU while it reads.

   • Faster with Bluetooth. zRead now wakes your headphones the moment you press the shortcut, while it grabs your selection, so speech begins sooner.
   • Instant back-to-back reads. Read several passages in a row and each one starts right away. zRead still lets your Mac sleep soon after you stop.
   • Lighter on your battery. Reading aloud now takes about half the CPU it did before.

6. 1.13.0

   Build 39

   28 September 2026

   A more human voice.

   ElevenLabs narration now uses Eleven v4 Turbo, ElevenLabs' newest and most expressive real-time voice model.

   • Eleven v4, by default. Narration sounds more natural and expressive, and starts just as quickly. Your voice and settings stay the same.
   • Even more expressive, if you like. Choose Eleven v4 in Voice Settings for the richest delivery. It takes a moment longer to start and uses about twice the credits.
   • Read as written. Citations like [1] and other bracketed text are read aloud, never turned into sound effects.

7. 1.12.1

   Build 38

   27 September 2026

   Right on time.

   Mac Voice now reads at the speed you choose, and interrupted ElevenLabs reads keep what they already downloaded.

   • Every speed, as labeled. Faster Mac Voice speeds were playing much too fast. Each speed now sounds like its label, and every speed up to 3× works with Mac Voice.
   • Interruptions, handled gently. If your connection drops during an ElevenLabs read, zRead finishes what it already downloaded, keeps Resume on screen, and picks up where you stopped hearing.
   • Small things, fixed. Shortcuts on function and arrow keys work, your Mac can sleep normally after a read, and typing in other apps is never held up by zRead.

8. 1.12.0

   Build 37

   24 September 2026

   Turn it up.

   A new Voice volume setting lets you make narration louder or quieter, separate from your Mac's volume.

   • Louder, still smooth. Open Voice Settings and slide Volume above 50% for a noticeably louder ElevenLabs voice. zRead keeps it clean and never lets it distort, and changes apply while it reads.
   • Right where you left it. 50% is the level you already know, so nothing changes until you move it. Go lower for quiet listening. Mac Voice can be turned down and uses your setting on the next read.

9. 1.11.3

   Build 36

   23 September 2026

   Listen to your terminal.

   zRead now reads text you select in Claude Code's fullscreen view and other full-screen terminal programs.

   • Claude Code, read aloud. Select Claude Code's answer in Ghostty and press ⌥ Esc. Full-screen terminal programs draw their own selection and copy it when you release the mouse; zRead now reads that copy.
   • Private by design. zRead uses the program's fresh copy only when it came from the terminal you are reading, is visible on screen, and is not marked as a password. Your clipboard is never changed.

10. 1.11.1

    Build 34

    20 September 2026

    Keep listening.

    Spoken-word highlighting is removed for more stable reading, with smoother streamed audio and recovery for interrupted reads.

    • A simpler reading experience. zRead reads your selection aloud without highlighting each spoken word. This removes a source of crashes associated with word highlighting.
    • Steady playback. Audio keeps playing smoothly as it arrives. Playback controls, reading speed, and recovery for interrupted reads stay available.

11. 1.11.0

    Build 33

    19 September 2026

    Reading controls, where you want them.

    A movable glass pill that settles at any screen edge, six reading speeds, and clearer controls for Mac Voice.

    • A grip that stays with you. Drag the pill by its grip and let go near any screen edge. It rests vertically at the left or right and horizontally at the top or bottom, remembering its place for the next read.
    • A faster pace. Add 2.5× and 3× to the existing reading speeds. ElevenLabs stays pitch-corrected. Mac Voice caps speeds above 2× at its 2× maximum and applies changes to the next read.
    • Mac Voice, easier to configure. Set reading speed in Voice Settings with either provider selected. Setup checks permissions again when you return, including when you run setup again.

12. 1.10.3

    Build 32

    18 September 2026

    Under the hood.

    The updater and shortcut recorder are current for macOS 27, with the latest reliability fixes.

    • macOS 27 ready. In-app updates and shortcut recording carry the newest fixes for the latest Mac.

13. 1.10.2

    Build 31

    5 September 2026

    A softer edge.

    The playback pill’s shadow now follows its rounded shape, without a square edge around the controls.

    • A shadow that fits. The playback pill uses the standard Mac window shadow for a smooth, rounded edge while you read.

14. 1.10.1

    Build 30

    5 September 2026

    Less panel. More page.

    A compact playback pill keeps play, pause, speed, and stop close while leaving more of your document visible.

    • Playback within reach. Play or pause, see your current speed, and stop from one small pill that remembers its position.
    • Resume with play. After an interrupted read, press play to resume from the last confirmed sentence or passage. A passage may repeat when precise timing is unavailable.
    • Keep your eyes on the source. The in-panel reading page is removed. Optional spoken-word highlights remain over your source text where positions are available; narration continues when highlighting cannot.

15. 1.10.0

    Build 29

    4 September 2026

    Start simply. Keep listening.

    Local-first setup, audio that streams with highlighting, and a clear way to resume an interrupted read.

    • Try it with Mac Voice. Read locally without an account. Connect ElevenLabs later in Voice Settings, and skip practice whenever you’re ready.
    • Keep the audio moving. Highlighted narration plays as audio arrives. If word timing is unavailable, the voice continues without waiting for the visual cues.
    • Resume from here. After an interrupted read, retry from the last confirmed sentence or passage. A passage may repeat when precise timing is unavailable. Nothing retries automatically.
    • Highlights that know when to step back. More accurate word positions, with the reading panel taking over when you scroll, move the window, or switch apps.

16. 1.9.0

    Build 28

    3 September 2026

    Words, lit as spoken.

    Each spoken word now lights up over your text while the voice narrates, with the reading panel carrying the read everywhere else.

    • Highlight where you read. A soft accent pill follows the narration over your text where the app exposes word positions. It never moves your selection or cursor.
    • A panel that keeps up. Where positions are unavailable, the reading panel highlights each word with a softer glow and spring reveal.
    • Roomier Settings. Settings cards gain side padding so rows, toggles, and controls breathe.

17. 1.8.0

    Build 27

    3 September 2026

    Always within reach.

    An optional Dock icon, a reading HUD that remembers its place, and menus that surface problems before you press the shortcut.

    • An optional Dock icon. Keep zRead in the Dock from General Settings for crowded menu bars. Off by default, as before.
    • A HUD that stays put. The reading HUD reopens where you left it across reads and relaunches, centering itself when displays change.
    • Notices that wait for you. The last read failure stays visible in the menu until narration plays, so a missed notice stays discoverable.
    • Proof in Privacy Settings. Recent reads record whether word highlighting stayed on track, partially dropped, or switched off — with the reason.

18. 1.7.0

    Build 25

    2 September 2026

    Follow every spoken word.

    An optional reading preview now highlights each word as the voice speaks while staying synchronized with playback.

    • In step with the voice. The active word follows audio playback through buffering, pause, resume, speed changes, and output-device latency.
    • A calm reading surface. A compact two-line preview uses a soft accent wash and a brief pulse without moving the surrounding text.
    • Optional by design. Highlight spoken words is off by default and can be enabled in General Settings under Behavior.
    • Made for every display setting. The preview adapts for reduced motion and transparency, increased contrast, color differentiation, and VoiceOver.

19. 1.6.3

    Build 24

    2 September 2026

    Telegram highlights, read correctly.

    zRead follows Telegram's multi-stage Copy transaction so highlighted message text reaches the reading flow reliably.

    • Telegram's Copy flow. zRead waits for Telegram to finish publishing the verified selected-text formats before it reads anything.
    • Selection only. Only Telegram's copied highlight is accepted. zRead never substitutes the whole message's Accessibility label.
    • Your clipboard returns. The prior clipboard is restored after capture, including when an incomplete Telegram Copy times out.
    • Everything else stays strict. Unexpected clipboard changes, passwords, unknown protection metadata, and unresolved Chrome selections remain blocked.

20. 1.6.2

    Build 23

    2 September 2026

    Your highlight, even in native custom views.

    zRead can read text highlighted in native apps whose content uses custom macOS views.

    • Native custom views. Highlighted text in custom native content can reach the same reading flow as ordinary text fields.
    • The highlight, not the view. zRead never substitutes an entire Accessibility label when it cannot verify the exact selected text.
    • Clipboard ownership. Copy is used only for classified non-secure native content, then your clipboard is restored unless something newer replaced it.
    • Uncertain stays blocked. Passwords, unknown protection metadata, and unresolved Chrome selections remain fail-closed.

21. 1.6.1

    Build 22

    2 September 2026

    The shortcut tells you when it needs help.

    zRead notices when macOS has revoked its access, points you to the exact permission pane, and recovers its global shortcut on its own.

    • Two permissions, checked separately. Accessibility and Input Monitoring each get their own status, so zRead can say precisely what the shortcut is missing.
    • One click to the right pane. Settings opens either macOS permission pane directly and rechecks access the moment you return.
    • One app owns the shortcut. Backup and development copies no longer compete with the installed app for Option–Escape.
    • Recovery with limits. If macOS drops the event tap, zRead retries a bounded number of times and offers a capture-only diagnostic that spends no voice credits.

22. 1.6.0

    Build 20

    31 August 2026

    Updates, without leaving zRead.

    zRead finds, verifies, installs, and relaunches updates in place. No browser, no disk image, no guessing.

    • Check from the menu or Settings. Review the release notes before anything is installed.
    • Install and relaunch in place. The update downloads, installs, and reopens zRead without a detour through the browser.
    • Explicit by default. Automatic checks are on, background downloads stay optional, and every action is a choice you make.
    • Verified twice. Sparkle checks the signed feed and archive, then macOS verifies the Developer ID before anything is replaced.

23. 1.5.0

    Build 19

    31 August 2026

    Faster starts. A calmer Mac experience.

    A 1.25× speed, more reliable selection when Chrome has just launched, and a refined Settings and onboarding flow.

    • 1.25×. A gentler step between 1× and 1.5×, for long reads.
    • Chrome, right after launch. Selected text is recovered more reliably in a freshly opened Chrome window.
    • Tighter timeouts. Update checks and network requests fail fast instead of hanging.

24. 1.3.3

    Build 17

    30 August 2026

    Software Update, in Settings.

    zRead can check for the latest official release and open the download in your browser.

    • A Software Update pane. The current version and the latest release, side by side in Settings.
    • One source of truth. The website and the app read the same versioned release manifest.

25. 1.3.2

    Build 16

    30 August 2026

    Pasting works as expected.

    Command–V pastes straight into the secure API-key field, and a visible Paste Key action is there when you need it.

    • Standard Edit commands. Cut, copy, and paste behave like every other Mac text field.
    • Ready on arrival. The key field takes focus automatically and trims stray whitespace.

26. 1.3.1

    Build 15

    29 August 2026

    More reliable selection.

    Better selected-text detection in Notion and other Electron apps.

    • Notion and Electron. zRead reads the selection reliably in apps built on Electron.

27. 1.3.0

    Build 14

    29 August 2026

    A quieter first impression.

    A refined identity, light and dark appearance in the app, guided setup, and clearer privacy copy.

    • Appearance. The app follows the Mac’s light and dark appearance.
    • Guided setup. Onboarding explains Accessibility access and checks your ElevenLabs key.

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