Break the language barrier with WhatsApp’s new translation feature. Check out our guide to easily translate your messages.
WhatsApp is rolling out an exciting new feature that’s sure to delight millions of users worldwide. Now, you can communicate seamlessly with friends or business partners who speak different languages—no more language barriers. The built-in message translation feature, which has been available to Android users for a while, has finally arrived on iPhones. So how does it work, and which languages are supported? Let’s take a closer look.
How to use WhatsApp’s instant translation feature
Using this new feature is simple. When you receive a message in a foreign language, there’s no need to switch to another translation app. Here’s what you need to do:
- Press and hold the message you want to translate.
- Tap “More…” from the pop-up menu.
- Select the “Translate” option.
On your first use, you’ll be prompted to choose the source and target languages and download the necessary language packs. Once downloaded, you’ll be able to translate messages even without an internet connection. To manage your downloaded languages, go to Settings > Translation > Downloaded Languages.
Which languages are supported? Here’s the full list!
WhatsApp currently supports 21 popular languages, with more expected to be added over time. Note that the available languages may vary depending on your iOS version.
Supported languages:
- 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
What you need to know: Limitations and requirements
While this feature is incredibly useful, it does have a few limitations for now. For instance, you can’t translate shared locations, documents, contacts, stickers, or GIFs.
To ensure smooth operation, make sure you have a stable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection and enough storage for the language packs.
The feature is rolling out gradually, so if you don’t have it yet, it should become available within the next few weeks.
