One way to translate a bilingual contract PDF with AI on an iPhone for a real estate agent is to use a browser-based, Bring-Your-Own-Key translation tool: OctopusPDF’s Translate PDF tool parses the PDF in the browser tab, keeps your API key in browser localStorage, and sends the text directly to the OpenAI-compatible endpoint you provide. This quick-start guide walks through the six actions that turn a bilingual contract PDF into a reviewable translated draft on an iPhone.
What You Will Need
- An iPhone with Safari installed. No separate PDF app is required.
- The bilingual contract PDF already saved to the Files app, iCloud Drive, or Downloads.
- An API key for an OpenAI-compatible endpoint (for example, OpenAI or another compatible provider).
- The exact base URL for that endpoint.
- A stable internet connection for the initial page load and the API request.
The same workflow can be adapted to other tools. You could also upload the PDF to an AI chat app that accepts files, use a translation app that can read PDFs, or run an OCR-to-translation workflow on a desktop. The core steps remain: select the file, provide access to a model, choose a target language, and review the output.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Open the Translate PDF tool in Safari
- Action: On your iPhone, open Safari and go to the OctopusPDF Translate PDF tool page.
- Explanation: This is a browser-based AI tool, so it runs in the current tab and does not require installing an app.
Screenshot: iPhone Safari showing the Translate PDF tool page.
Step 2. Add the bilingual contract PDF
- Action: Tap the file-picker button on the page and select the contract PDF from the Files app, iCloud Drive, or Downloads.
- Explanation: The tool uses
pdf.jsto parse the PDF inside the browser tab. The PDF file is not uploaded to a server by the tool.
Watch out: If your PDF is a scanned image with no selectable text, the text-translation step will have no text to work with. Convert the scan to a text-based PDF with OCR first, or use a vision-capable AI chat app.
Screenshot: iOS file picker showing the contract PDF selected.
Step 3. Enter your API key and endpoint
- Action: In the AI settings panel, paste your API key into the API Key field and enter the OpenAI-compatible endpoint in the Endpoint/Base URL field.
- Explanation: The tool stores the key in browser
localStorage. According to the vendor’s privacy documentation, the backend receives neither the PDF nor the API key; the browser connects directly to the endpoint you entered.
Watch out: Paste the API key into Notes first, check for a trailing space or newline, then paste it into the field. For OpenAI, the base URL is usually https://api.openai.com/v1. For other providers, copy the base URL from your provider dashboard.
Screenshot: API key and endpoint fields in the Translate PDF settings panel.
Step 4. Choose the target language
- Action: Tap the language dropdown and select the language into which you want the contract translated.
- Explanation: The Translate PDF tool supports page-by-page translation into 9+ languages. For a bilingual contract, choose the language that helps your client or your file review; for example, if the contract contains Chinese and English and the client needs English, choose English.
Watch out: Legal terms are not always literal. After translation, compare terms such as deposit, default interest, and termination with the original text.
Screenshot: language dropdown with the target language selected.
Step 5. Tap the Translate button
- Action: Tap the Translate button or equivalent start button and wait for the AI call to finish.
- Explanation: The browser connects directly to the endpoint you entered. This means the API request goes to your chosen provider, not to the PDF tool’s server. Translation time depends on the contract length and the API speed.
Screenshot: translation progress indicator in Safari.
Step 6. Review the translation and save a copy
- Action: Read the translated text in the browser tab, then use the iOS share sheet or copy command to save a copy.
- Explanation: For a real estate transaction, you need a static copy for the file or client. Tap and hold to select translated text, then choose Copy or Share to save to Notes, Files, or email.
Watch out: Treat the AI translation as a working draft. Have a qualified person review legal clauses before the version is used in a closing or filing.
Screenshot: selected translated text with the iOS share sheet open.
Common Mistakes / Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The file picker does not open | Safari or an in-app browser blocked the file dialog | Tap the file button again; if using an embedded app browser, open Safari and reload the page |
| The tool shows "Missing API key" | The API key has spaces, a newline, or a missing character | Clean the key in Notes, then paste it again; reload the tool if needed |
| API call returns 404 or 401 | Wrong endpoint or insufficient key permissions | Check the provider’s base URL; make sure the key can call the chat/completion model |
| Some pages have no translated text | Those PDF pages may be images or scans | Run an OCR step first to make the text selectable; then repeat the translation |
| Legal terms are inconsistent | The selected model is weak or the context is too long | Use a stronger model, or translate the PDF in smaller chunks |
How to Verify Success
- You opened the PDF and the tool showed the correct page count or preview.
- The translation started without an authentication error.
- Every page that contained source text produced translated text; no page is blank.
- Key real estate details—purchase price, deposit, closing date, party names, and addresses—are present and consistent.
- You saved or shared the translated text using the iOS share sheet.
- You created a new API key for the task or revoked the key if you are finished.
FAQ
Q1. Does the PDF get uploaded to the PDF tool’s server?
No. In the BYOK browser workflow described here, the PDF is parsed inside the browser tab with pdf.js, the API key stays in browser localStorage, and the browser connects directly to the OpenAI-compatible endpoint you enter. This is specific to BYOK tools such as the one used in this guide; other PDF or AI services may handle data differently.
Q2. Can I use a non-OpenAI endpoint?
Yes. The tool accepts any OpenAI-compatible endpoint. You only need the provider’s base URL and a valid API key. The rest of the steps remain the same.
Q3. Is the AI translation a certified legal translation?
No. AI translation is a working draft. For a real estate contract, a human reviewer—preferably a qualified translator or attorney—should verify the final version.
Key Facts
- The browser-based BYOK workflow parses the PDF locally with
pdf.js; the PDF is not uploaded by the tool. - The API key is kept in browser
localStorage, and the browser connects directly to the user-provided endpoint with no server-in-the-middle. - The Translate PDF tool supports page-by-page translation into 9+ languages.
- Scanned, image-only contracts require OCR before text translation can work.
- The final output should be treated as a draft, not a legally binding translation.