WhatsApp drops built-in translator – But there’s a catch

ISLAMABAD: After years of requests, WhatsApp has officially introduced a built-in message translation feature for both Android and iPhone users, aiming to break down language barriers in personal chats, groups, and even Channels.

To translate a message, users simply need to long-press on an incoming message, tap the new ‘Translate’ option, and choose the source or target language. Users can also download their most-used languages for quicker offline translations.

Meta confirmed that translations happen on-device rather than on the cloud, giving users stronger privacy protection.

Language availability

• iPhone Users: The feature will support translations in 19+ languages at launch.

• Android Users: Initially limited to six languages — English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic — with more to follow.

Android gets exclusive thread translations

WhatsApp is giving Android users a bonus feature: thread translations. This allows an entire chat thread to be automatically translated, saving time by eliminating the need to translate messages one by one.

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iPhone users, however, will still have to translate individual messages manually.

Until now, WhatsApp users relied on third-party apps like Swift Translate and Todalingua to bridge language gaps. This update eliminates that need, bringing WhatsApp in line with competitors who already offer built-in translation tools.

In a blog post, WhatsApp said:

“We hope this feature helps break down language barriers and allows users to connect more deeply with loved ones and communities around the globe.”