User guide

How to use Zova

From installation to your first saved class.

Learn with Zova

Live translation in 78 world languages.

Zova detects the lesson language automatically, then helps you follow the class with live transcription, translation, optional translated audio and study notes.

No charge for Zova's own extension features

Start with Google AI Studio

Before your first live session, create your own Gemini API key in Google AI Studio. It is stored locally in Zova.

Open Google AI Studio →

Zova does not currently charge for its own extension features. External Google services may have their own limits, eligibility requirements or terms.

12

From class to saved study notes

Use this visual path to understand how Zova detects, translates and saves your lesson.

Classes and saved lesson
Zova Classes page with a saved class and study controls
1. Open a saved class and choose the study action you need.
Smart Notes
Zova Smart Notes and Clean Study File
2. Keep Smart Notes and a Clean Study File together with the class.
Live classroom
Zova live classroom transcription and translation
3. During the lesson, Zova detects the language and shows the translation beside the live transcript.
13

From Learning Map to Study Detail

The class sets the subject and scope. Zova organizes it into Chapters, Topics and Concepts, then lets you open one focused learning unit at a time.

  • Learning Objective — what to understand after studying the concept
  • Why This Matters and Core Idea — the central learning point first
  • Key Points, Important Rules and Terminology — concise reviewable knowledge
  • Teacher Evidence · From class and Teacher Examples · From class — classroom evidence kept distinguishable from added explanation
  • Examples, Common Mistakes, Related Concepts and Quick Check when useful
  • Hint and Quick Recap for progressive review

Not every section appears for every concept. Study Detail uses the sections that help with the selected part of the class.

1

Add your Gemini API key

Before starting a lesson, connect Zova to Google Gemini with your own API key. Zova does not currently charge for its own extension features; external Google services may have their own limits, eligibility requirements or terms.

  1. Open Google AI Studio API Keys.
  2. Click Create API key, choose a project, and copy the key.
  3. Open the Zova extension and click the Settings gear.
  4. Paste the key into the Gemini API key field.
  5. Click Save, then return to your lesson.
Settings
Zova Settings where you paste your Gemini API key
Zova Settings

The key is stored locally in Chrome extension storage and is not included in class backup files.

3

Allow website access

When you start Zova on a classroom or video website, Chrome may ask you to allow access to that site.

Click Allow only for the lesson page you selected. This lets Smart Class appear beside the classroom and work with the active session.

2

Start your class

  1. Open the online lesson or video.
  2. Open Zova.
  3. Let Zova detect the lesson language automatically, then choose your translation language.
  4. Press Start.
  5. Smart Class appears on the page.
Zova
Zova popup to choose a language and start the classroom session
Choose a language and click Start.
3

Follow Smart Class

See original classroom content and the selected translation together as the lesson unfolds.

  • Original lesson content appears first.
  • Translation appears directly under the corresponding original text.
  • The transcript continues as the lesson progresses.
  • Text size can be adjusted.
  • Smart Class can be resized.
  • Smart Class can be minimized and restored.
  • Content scrolls inside Smart Class after reaching its maximum display height.
Smart Class
Zova Smart Class showing original classroom content and selected translation
Original classroom content and the selected translation update together.
4

Ask for help

Use Explain or Answer when you need focused help understanding the lesson.

  • Explain — use when a recent lesson concept needs a clearer explanation.
  • Answer — use when you need a direct answer based on recent classroom context.

Zova processes the request in the background and returns the result directly to Smart Class.

Zova does not send your Gemini API key through the background assistant flow.

Smart Class assistance
Zova Smart Class assistance for Answer or Explain
Use saved lesson context to get focused help.
7

Optional translated audio

Dubbing (translated audio playback) is optional. You can enable or disable it separately from the rest of Zova.

Turning Dubbing off does not prevent Smart Class, the transcript, Save Class or Auto-Save.

Settings
Zova Settings with optional translated audio controls
Zova Settings
5

Save your class

A manual Save Class stores:

  • Class metadata
  • Transcript
  • Translations
  • Smart Notes
  • Supported study data

Keep transcripts, translations and Smart Notes for later study — saved locally on your device.

Original and translated transcript
Original and translated transcript saved for later study
Save the original transcript together with its translation.
Saved class transcript
Saved class with original and translated transcript
Keep the complete lesson ready for later review.
9

Auto-Save protection

While Smart Class is active, meaningful changes can be automatically saved — so you don't have to constantly press Save.

6

Review later

Search, review, rename, export or delete saved lessons whenever you need them.

  • Open saved classes
  • Search your history
  • Read original and translated transcripts
  • Review Smart Notes
  • Adjust text size
  • Rename classes
  • Delete classes
  • Export Markdown
  • Manage saved study material
Smart Notes and Study File
Zova Smart Notes and Clean Study File for a saved lesson
Review Smart Notes and the Clean Study File.
Saved class review
Zova saved class with search and export controls
Search, open, export or manage a saved lesson.
11

Backup your classes

  • Export Backup — downloads a Zova backup JSON containing your saved class data.
  • Import Backup — restores compatible saved classes.

Your Gemini API key is not included in exported class backups. Backups are manual — Zova does not perform automatic cloud backups.