WhatsApp gets native message translation on iOS and Android

WhatsApp is breaking down language barriers by rolling out a native message translation feature for its billions of users on iOS and Android. This officially means that the clumsy ritual of copy-pasting foreign text into a separate translation app just to understand what your friends, family, or colleagues are saying has officially come to an end.

On-device processing to keep your chats private also included

Activating the translation is straightforward. You just press and hold on a message bubble until a menu appears, tap ‘Translate’, and then select your target language.

WhatsApp confirmed this works across the board in personal chats, group threads, and even on updates from your favourite Channels.

iPhone users get a significant head start with a massive library of over 19 languages available from day one, covering tongues like French, German, Korean, and Vietnamese. The feature seemingly piggybacks on Apple’s existing Translate app capabilities.

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Android users begin with a more curated list of six major languages which are English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic. But the app has still promised that support for more languages is on the way for everyone down the line.

Team Android does get one cool exclusive perk, though. You can set an entire chat thread to automatically translate. This basically means all future messages in that specific chat will just appear in your chosen language without you lifting another finger.

As usual, the company is also stresses on the privacy angle. All translation processing happens directly on your own device, not on WhatsApp’s servers. This helps maintain the integrity of end-to-end encryption. Your phone simply downloads the necessary language packs to power the feature privately.

This global rollout began on Tuesday, September 23, but it’s happening gradually, so you might need a little patience before it appears. WhatsApp advises keeping your app updated to receive it. For now, the feature is mobile-only, with no official timeline for its arrival on the web or dedicated desktop apps.