WhatsApp Releases The Long-Awaited Live Translation Tool

The feature is available starting today on both Android and iPhone, with different language options at launch. Android users can translate messages in six languages: English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic. iPhone users will have access to those six plus 13 more, including French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. Meta says more languages will follow in future updates.

Using the tool is simple. Users can long-press any message and tap Translate to select the source and target languages. After downloading a language pack, translations can be performed instantly in individual chats, group conversations, and even Channel updates. For Android users, there’s also an option to enable automatic translation for entire chat threads, ensuring all future messages in a conversation appear in the chosen language without any extra steps.

Privacy remains a key part of the rollout. Meta explained that translations happen directly on the user’s device, not on company servers, which means WhatsApp cannot see the messages being translated. This approach matches WhatsApp’s existing end-to-end encryption policy, which prevents Meta from reading personal messages.

Meta says the goal is to reduce language barriers and help people connect more naturally. “We hope this feature helps break down language barriers and allows users to connect more deeply,” the company noted in its announcement.

The new tool follows other recent WhatsApp updates aimed at improving communication, such as AI-powered writing assistance for drafting clearer messages. With billions of users already relying on WhatsApp for everyday conversations, the addition of real-time translation signals Meta’s broader push to keep the platform essential for global communication.

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