WhatsApp Introduces In-App Translation Feature for iPhone Users
Communication often presents a formidable challenge when individuals lack a shared language. The complexity of social media platforms further exacerbates this issue. However, WhatsApp has recently unveiled a groundbreaking in-app translation feature, now available for iPhone users. This enhancement supports a diverse array of 19 languages and their variations.
Translating Messages on WhatsApp
WhatsApp’s offering surpasses Apple’s default language capabilities, providing an expansive choice of 19 languages. This in-app translation tool is functional for one-on-one conversations, group chats, and channel updates. Unfortunately, it does not extend to GIFs, stickers, locations, shared contacts, or document translations.
To initiate a message translation, users must first ensure that their WhatsApp application is up to date. This can be accomplished by accessing the App Store and navigating to: App Store > Profile Icon > WhatsApp.
To translate a message, simply press and hold the desired text. This action will isolate the content, revealing several options.
- Tap More.
- Select the Translate option.
- Choose your preferred language from the list.
Supported Languages
The supported languages encompass:
- Arabic
- Chinese (Mandarin, Simplified)
- Chinese (Mandarin, Traditional)
- Dutch
- English (UK)
- English (US)
- French
- German
- Hindi
- Indonesian
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Polish
- Portuguese (Brazil)
- Russian
- Spanish
- Thai
- Turkish
- Ukrainian
- Vietnamese
The feature automatically detects the source language of the selected message. Should the text be edited, a simple long press on the modified text will still allow for translation.
Tip: Master language skills directly on your iPhone—no additional applications are required.
Managing Language Packs
Upon first selecting your source and target languages, WhatsApp will prompt you to download language packs directly to your device.
To manage these packs, navigate to Settings on your iPhone, enter the search bar, and type Translate.
Select Downloaded Languages to view and manage your stored packs. Additional languages can also be downloaded here.
Be mindful that download speeds depend largely on your Internet connection. Slower connections will inevitably lead to prolonged download times; thus, utilizing a Wi-Fi connection is advisable for expedience.
Optimizing On-Device Mode

Once installed, the language packs enable translation without reliance on Wi-Fi or cellular connections. Your iPhone autonomously manages this translation process. To preemptively download your preferred languages, navigate to: Settings > Translate > Downloaded Languages.
Activate On-Device Mode to ensure all downloaded packs function offline.
Note: Keep in mind that translations conducted on-device may exhibit less accuracy than their online counterparts. Offline features are generally better utilized for grasping the essential meaning of messages, rather than achieving precise translations.
This in-app translation feature remains the sole mechanism for translating messages within WhatsApp, as Meta has not integrated Apple’s built-in system capabilities. Recognizing this gap, users can leverage Meta AI for summarizing extensive conversations or proofreading messages.
Source link: Maketecheasier.com.