Squint: ask about a selected screen region without opening a chat app

Squint starts an AI conversation with the part of your screen you select. The publisher's homepage describes pressing a hotkey, dragging a box around a confusing item and reading the answer in a panel beside it. That approach can fit an unfamiliar interface, an image or a technical passage without first saving a screenshot and uploading it to another application.

Select the evidence for the answer

The default shortcut is Win+Shift+Q, and users can rebind it. Holding Shift adds another selected region, with up to four regions in one capture. Squint streams responses and supports Markdown, mathematical expressions and code blocks. A follow-up stays with the capture, rather than requiring another screenshot for each question.

The publisher says Squint captures only when the user activates it. It describes no recording, polling or background capture between those actions. That makes the region you choose important: exclude unrelated private information before asking about a window that contains account or customer details.

Understand what leaves the computer

The selected region goes to OpenAI's API for the answer. Local chat history can be searched or switched off, but local history does not make the AI response an offline feature. Squint says an internet connection is required for model answers.

The homepage also describes the model provider's retention policy. Review the current applicable policy before submitting confidential material, rather than equating the absence of whole-screen recording with a guarantee about remote processing. Franklin has not tested Squint's capture behavior or data handling.

Pick a plan around captures and follow-ups

The free plan allows three captures per day and ten per week, using the Fast model, with up to two follow-ups per capture. The Plus plan displays $10 per month and 2,500 monthly credits. A Fast capture costs one credit; a Best capture costs twenty-five, and follow-ups cost the same as their originating capture. Unused credits do not carry over.

Check the platform before downloading

The page lists Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit, and a Linux AppImage for Wayland with GNOME 45+ or KDE Plasma 6. It excludes X11. macOS is marked as not yet available, even though a future download row lists its intended requirements. Choose a supported release rather than assuming all three desktop platforms are ready.