Text Expander for macOS

PhraseVault® is a native text expander for macOS that works across every application on your Mac. Whether you use Safari, Mail, Pages, Xcode, Terminal, or third-party apps like Slack and Notion, PhraseVault delivers your saved phrases instantly through a system-wide keyboard shortcut.

Installation

1. Download the PKG file from the download page.
2. Double-click the downloaded .pkg file to open the installer.
3. Follow the on-screen steps to complete the installation.
4. PhraseVault is installed to your Applications folder automatically.
5. Launch PhraseVault from Applications, Spotlight, or Launchpad.

Accessibility Permissions

macOS requires accessibility permissions for applications that interact with other apps system-wide. On first launch, PhraseVault will prompt you to grant this permission:

1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility
2. Enable PhraseVault in the list
3. Restart PhraseVault if prompted

This is a standard macOS security requirement for any text expander, clipboard manager, or automation tool. PhraseVault only uses this permission to paste phrases into your active application.

How It Works on macOS

PhraseVault lives in your menu bar. Press Cmd+. to open the search window from any application. Start typing to fuzzy-search your phrases, use arrow keys to navigate results, and press Enter to paste directly into your active app.

Works With Every Mac Application

• Apple apps — Safari, Mail, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Notes, Messages
• Browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Arc, Brave, Opera
• Development — Xcode, VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Terminal, iTerm2
• Communication — Slack, Microsoft Teams, Discord, Zoom chat
• Productivity — Notion, Obsidian, Google Docs, Microsoft Office for Mac
• Any application that accepts clipboard input

Key Features on macOS

• Menu bar integration — always accessible, minimal resource usage
• Native keyboard shortcuts — Cmd+. to trigger, familiar macOS key conventions
• Local data storage — phrases stored on your Mac, no cloud account needed
• Markdown and HTML formatting — rich text that works in Mail, Pages, and web apps
• Naming conventions — structure phrases by project, client, or workflow using prefixes
• Team sharing — share a database via iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or NAS

Cross-Platform Compatibility

PhraseVault uses the same database format on macOS and Windows. If your team works across both platforms, everyone accesses the same phrase library. Read the Windows guide for setup on PC.

Try PhraseVault free for 14 days — full features, no account required.