Why isn't the shortcut working on some pages?

Browsers block every extension — not just Sonic Translate — on their internal pages: chrome:// settings screens, the Chrome Web Store, the built-in PDF viewer, and the new-tab page. Ctrl+E and Shift+E cannot respond there. On any normal webpage, select text first, then press the shortcut.

Which pages block the shortcut?

Page	Example	Shortcut works?
Browser settings pages	chrome://extensions, chrome://settings	No
Chrome Web Store	chromewebstore.google.com	No
Built-in PDF viewer	any PDF opened in a tab	No
New-tab page	the page shown after Ctrl+T	No
Regular websites	articles, docs, forums, web apps	Yes

This is a browser security rule, and it applies to every extension equally. Extensions cannot read or change these pages, so no extension's shortcut can act on them.

What can you do instead?

Open the content in a regular tab. Text on the Chrome Web Store or a settings page can't be translated in place, but the same information often exists on a normal website — open it there, select the text and press Ctrl+E.

Sonic Translate cannot translate PDFs. For documents, use a dedicated tool such as the document upload at translate.google.com.

Did you select text first?

The shortcut translates your current selection. If nothing is highlighted, pressing Ctrl+E does nothing. Highlight a word, sentence, or paragraph, then press Ctrl+E for the quick popup or Shift+E for the full side panel.

Is another app using the same keys?

Other extensions or desktop apps can claim Ctrl+E or Shift+E before Sonic Translate sees the keypress. If the shortcut also fails on normal webpages, record a different combo:

1. Click the Sonic Translate icon in your toolbar, then the gear icon to open Options.
2. Under Keyboard Shortcuts, click the shortcut field and press a new two-key combo (Ctrl, Shift, Alt, or ⌘ plus a key).
3. Click Save.

The default is Ctrl+E on every operating system, including Mac. See change the shortcut for details.