WhatsApp Can Translate Messages In 21 Languages on iOS: Here's How It Works

WhatsApp has introduced a new feature for translating messages on both iOS and Android devices. This update is now available to some users with the latest version of WhatsApp for iOS, which started rolling out on Tuesday. Users can translate messages in 21 languages directly within the app. The feature is expected to reach more devices soon as users update their apps via the App Store.

WhatsApp's Translation Feature Details

The translation feature is part of WhatsApp's latest iOS build, as reported by WABetaInfo. To access it, users need to update to WhatsApp for iOS version 25.28.74. The feature will be enabled on their devices after updating.

WhatsApp uses Apple's translation APIs to provide secure and quick translations between languages. The app automatically detects the language of messages, but users can manually select the correct source language if needed. This ensures accurate translations even when automatic detection fails.

Language Options and Offline Use

Users must download individual language packs to use the translation feature offline. This means translations can occur without an internet connection once the necessary packs are installed. The available languages include Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin, Simplified and Traditional), Dutch, English (UK and US), French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

The Message Translation feature was announced last month through a blog post by WhatsApp. It works in individual chats, group conversations, and channel updates. On Android devices, users can translate messages in English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic by long-pressing a message and tapping the Translate button.

Privacy Considerations

WhatsApp assures users that privacy is a priority with this new feature. Translations are performed on-device so that no one else has access to user conversations—not even WhatsApp itself. This approach ensures that personal data remains secure while using the translation service.

Additionally, Android users have the option to enable automatic translations for entire chat threads. This eliminates the need to translate each message individually within a conversation thread. The introduction of this translation feature highlights WhatsApp's commitment to enhancing user experience by breaking down language barriers across its platform.