Meta-owned WhatsApp has officially introduced a new on-device translation feature, lets users instantly translate their chats without leaving the app. The update is rolling out globally across 180 countries, and this is a great move towards closing the language barrier in real-time communication.
How WhatsApp Translation works
Users can long-press a message, tap on “Translate”, and select their preferred language. The translation appears instantly, and there is no need to copy and paste the text into external apps. WhatsApp has also taken the next step on Android by introducing automatic chat translations, so that once the setting has been enabled, chats can be automatically translated in real time.
Meta highlights that all translations happen directly on-device, making chats remain private and secure. However, users will need to download language packs for every language they want to translate.
Supported languages
Android and iOS rollouts are slightly different
- Android: Supports six languages at launch (English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic).
- iOS: Supports over 19 languages (English, Spanish, Arabic, French, German, Hindi, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, and more).
The feature works seamlessly across private chats, group conversations, and even WhatsApp Channels, making it versatile for both personal and professional communication.
The feature works smoothly with private chats, group conversations, and even WhatsApp Channels, so it is flexible for both personal and professional communication.
Availability and limitations
The feature is rolling out gradually and may not be available to all users immediately. According to WhatsApp’s support page, “Translating messages on WhatsApp is only available on some devices and not yet available to all. Meanwhile, we recommend updating your WhatsApp app on your device so you can get this feature as soon as it’s available.”
Currently, the feature is only available for iOS and Android. Support for WhatsApp Web and Windows versions has not been confirmed.
