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Translating Protected Sites ​

Last updated: November 19, 2025

Ever stumbled upon a website that just won't translate? It happens. Some sites use complex JavaScript or security features like Cloudflare that can block standard text extraction. But don't worry, OmniTranslate has powerful tools to help you read anything you want.

This guide will walk you through our advanced scraping features for both desktop and mobile.

Desktop Users: The Browser Extension ​

If you're on a computer, our browser extension is your best friend for tricky websites. It works directly with your browser to fetch content smoothly.

How to Get Started ​

  1. Install the Extension: Grab it from the Chrome Web Store for Chrome-based desktop browsers or from the Firefox Add-ons store for Firefox on desktop (and on mobile if you use Firefox for Android/iOS).

NOTE

Desktop users can rely on either the Chrome Web Store build (Chrome, Edge, Brave, etc.) or the Firefox Add-ons build (Firefox). Mobile users can install the same Firefox add-on inside Firefox for Android/iOS, or switch to our mobile app for client-side scraping that matches the extension.

Add extension to chrome

  1. Enable in Settings: Head to Settings -> Translation in the OmniTranslate web app. Make sure "Extension Scraping" is switched on. It should be on by default after installation.

    Options showing 'Extension Scraping'

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Extension Scraping is on by default when the extension is installed. However, it can still fail to work due to various reasons. If you encounter issues, try disabling the feature and see if normal scraping works.

WARNING

Chrome's automatic translation feature might interfere with the extension's scraping process. Make sure to disable automatic translation settings for Google Translate for the best experience. Disabling Automatic GTL translation

You are now ready to translate using the extension. When you request a translation, the translator will communicate with the extension to fetch the raw text from the website. You may see a pop-up window of the requested website during the scraping process.

Mobile Users: Firefox Extension or Client-Side Scraping ​

Prefer a browser workflow on mobile? Install the Firefox version of the OmniTranslate extension directly from the Firefox Add-ons store and follow the quick-start steps below. If you’d rather stay inside the Omni app, we’ve also got a dedicated Client-Side Scraping mode that mirrors the extension’s capabilities.

Firefox Extension on Mobile ​

  1. Install in Firefox: Open Firefox on Android or iOS, visit the Firefox Add-ons store, and tap Add to Firefox.
  2. Sign In to Omni: Launch the OmniTranslate web app in that same Firefox tab so the extension can connect to your session.
  3. Enable Extension Scraping: In the OmniTranslate web app go to Settings -> Translation and confirm "Extension Scraping" is toggled on.

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If Firefox offers to translate web pages automatically, decline the prompt—letting the browser intervene can block the extension’s scraping workflow.

Client-Side Scraping (Mobile App) ​

  1. Enable Client-Side Scraping: You can activate this feature in the app's settings. Navigate to the Fetch tab within the Settings menu and toggle on "Client-Side Scraping".

    Client-Side Scraping Setting

  2. Choose Your Extraction Mode: OmniTranslate offers different content extraction modes to suit your needs. You can find these settings right below the main toggle.

    Content Extraction Mode Settings

  • Eager (default): Automatically extracts content for supported sites and on page load for others.
  • Lazy: Automatic extraction for supported sites, but requires manual intervention otherwise.
  • Manual: Always requires you to manually trigger the extraction for full control.

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We recommend using Eager mode for the most seamless experience, unless you have a specific reason to use other modes.

The Scraping Process ​

When you enter a URL, an in-app browser will load the page.

In-app browser for scraping

When the content is successfully extracted, you'll see a confirmation message.

Content extracted successfully

Depending on your chosen mode, it will either start extracting text automatically or wait for you to press the "Extract Content" button. Once it's done, you'll be taken to the reader view with your translated content.

NOTE

The "Extract content" button is available in all modes. If you press it, the content will be scraped immediately, even if automatic extraction is enabled.

Enjoy Reading