Frequently asked questions
What can TextLab do?
Case conversion (UPPER/lower/Title/snake/kebab/camel/Pascal/CONSTANT), Arrange Mode (drag to reorder lines, paragraphs, or sentences), JSON pretty-print and minify, Markdown preview, text cleanup (whitespace, smart quotes, zero-width chars, BOMs), encoders (Base64, URL, HTML entities, hex, JWT decode), regex test and replace, diff/compare, quick conversions (timestamps, hex-to-RGB, CSV-to-JSON), and AI text actions (summarize, rewrite, fix grammar, translate, explain). Full undo and redo back every change.
How do I rearrange lines or paragraphs?
Open Arrange Mode from the editor toolbar. Choose how to split the text - Lines, Blocks (paragraphs), Sentences, or a Custom delimiter such as a comma or tab - then drag the rows into the order you want and tap Done. The spacing between segments is positional, so reordering never collapses your paragraphs or line breaks; the parts you do not move keep their exact formatting.
Can Arrange Mode sort, dedupe, or shuffle a list?
Yes. The operations menu inside Arrange Mode offers reverse order, sort A-Z, sort by length, remove duplicates, shuffle, and trim whitespace - all working on the current rows. A live segment count shows how many items you have. For example: split a comma list with a custom delimiter, trim whitespace, remove duplicates, and sort A-Z in a few taps.
Is there undo and redo?
Yes. Every change in the editor - typing, a transformation, or a rearrangement - is a step you can move backward and forward through. On Mac use Command-Z and Shift-Command-Z; on iPhone and iPad use the undo and redo buttons in the toolbar. Applying an Arrange Mode result is a single undo step, so you can revert a whole reorder at once.
Does TextLab work offline?
Yes for the local actions (case, JSON, Markdown, regex, encoders, diff, cleanup, conversions). AI text actions need a network connection if you opt into the cloud-AI option; on-device AI runs without internet on supported chips.
Is there a Mac version?
Yes. TextLab is a true native macOS app, not a stretched iPad build. On Mac you also get a Services menu integration (right-click any text in any app and send it to a TextLab action), a menu-bar quick action launcher, and full keyboard shortcuts for every workflow.
Do my workflows sync between iPhone, iPad, and Mac?
Yes. Saved patterns, workflows, and presets sync through iCloud across every device you sign into. Start a regex on iPhone, finish it on Mac.
Where is my text processed? Is anything sent to a server?
Local actions never leave your device. AI actions show a clear consent prompt before sending text anywhere, and only when you explicitly trigger them. You can disable cloud AI entirely in settings.
What are workflows?
Workflows let you chain actions together (for example: clean whitespace → JSON pretty-print → copy) and save the chain as a one-tap shortcut. Useful for tasks you repeat many times a day.
Which regex flavor does it support?
ICU regex (the same as NSRegularExpression on iOS, similar to PCRE2). Most JavaScript, Java, and Python patterns work directly. The cheat sheet inside the app calls out the small differences.
Can I share results out of TextLab to other apps?
Yes. Every result has Copy, Share Sheet, and "Send back to source" options. TextLab also exposes a Share Extension so you can send text from any app into a TextLab action and back.
Does it support Shortcuts and Action Button?
Yes. TextLab provides App Intents so you can call any action (or saved workflow) from Shortcuts, the Action Button, Spotlight, or Siri.
Get TextLab: Format, Edit & Convert
A fast text toolbox for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Format, edit, convert, and run AI actions, all in one app.