iPhone’s live message translation simplifies multilingual conversations, automatically translating texts without copying or switching apps.
Users can download language packs for offline translation, ensuring smooth communication even without internet access.
Translation can be stopped at any time, giving full control over which conversations are translated or left in their original form.
Apple's AI Suite for iPhone has not yet surpassed its main competitor, Galaxy AI on Android. However, Apple might have slightly outperformed Samsung in live translation with the latest iOS 16 update.
Apple's AI now helps iPhone users translate their text messages in real-time. This process is seamless and operates effortlessly. Let us guide you through it.
Although live translation is integrated into the iOS 26 update, it is a feature that can only be utilized on iPhones with Apple Intelligence support. Users of iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max models or higher can take advantage of this feature.
The first step in the translation process is downloading the language pack of the source language to your device. It is advised to connect your device to a WiFi network first before actually downloading the pack.
In the meantime, the translated messages can be read just below the original ones in a chat. Additionally, you have the option to view only messages written in the language of translation.
When a reply is sent to a message, the user's text will be automatically translated into the receiver's language. Currently, nine languages are available for this feature:
Chinese
English
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Portuguese
Spanish
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Launch the Messages app on your iPhone and tap on the thread where you want to have live translations. This enables automatic language detection and translation for the conversation, making communication easier.
To access conversation settings, click on the contact's name at the top of the screen. The options for enabling translation features, setting language preferences, and managing auto-translation of incoming messages will be provided to you here.
Turn on the toggle labeled Automatically Translate. This function's advantage is that you will not have to take any manual action every time, as all incoming messages in a foreign language will be instantly translated into your preferred language.
Click on Translate From and download the required language pack. This not only ensures that your iPhone can translate texts in that language effectively, but it will also do so without an Internet connection, enabling faster and more reliable translations during conversations.
To discontinue the translation, click on the 'Translating Language' option at the bottom of the chat and choose Stop Translation. This will stop the automatic translations, and messages will be displayed in their original language.
Also Read: How to Edit Live Voicemail Feature Setting on iPhone
iPhone users can easily converse across borders with its live message translation feature, swiftly eliminating language boundaries.
Apple's native features, the Messages automatic translation option and the Translate app, offer flawless, smooth translations that users can receive without changing conversations. It should be noted that the Google Translate App enables translation of more languages and offers the convenience of offline use.
Having functions like ‘Automatically Translate’ set up, along with language packs downloaded, communication will flow smoothly. At the same time, users will still have the option to interrupt the translation if needed.
However, caution should be taken when utilizing translations, as idioms and colloquial phrases may not transfer through these translations. These upgrades save very large amounts of time and, most importantly, they increase understanding, truly making multilingual conversations better on the iPhone.
1. Can my iPhone automatically translate messages in iMessage?
Absolutely, the ‘Automatically Translate’ switch in the contact's settings, once activated, will enable your iPhone to instantly translate incoming messages into the language you have selected for uninterrupted communication.
2. What are the languages that the iPhone can take live translation?
The iPhone is capable of live translating major languages, including Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, and Portuguese, among others. Besides, one can always download additional languages through language packs for offline access.
3. Is translating messages on an iPhone a process that requires an internet connection?
Not at all; the phone can translate messages in the offline mode as long as the needed language pack is installed. The only time you will need the internet is for languages not included in your downloads or for using third-party app features.
4. Can I disable translation for a single conversation?
Indeed, just press the ‘Translating Language’ link at the end of your chat and then choose ‘Stop Translation’ to change the messages back to their initial language.
5. Are third-party applications more beneficial for message translation on iPhone?
Considering the iPhone's built-in features for iMessage instant translations, third-party apps like Google Translate or Microsoft Translator provide more languages, voice translation, and extra functionalities, but are still less convenient.