WhatsApp is rolling out a long-awaited feature that makes chatting across different languages easier than ever. With WhatsApp in-app translation, users can translate messages directly inside the app without relying on workarounds. After years of relying on copy-paste workarounds, users can now translate messages directly inside the app.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
The new in-app translation feature removes the need for third-party tools like Google Translate. Users can simply long-press a message and tap “Translate” to instantly convert it into their preferred language. WhatsApp in-app translation also enables users to download translation packs for future use, making the process seamless and private.
Android users can translate six languages: English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic. iOS users have access to 19 languages, including Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. The larger selection on iOS comes from WhatsApp utilising Apple’s Translation API.
Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, emphasises that translations occur directly on your device. This ensures chat privacy, as no message content is sent to external servers. “Message translations were designed to protect the privacy of your chats,” Meta stated. A privacy-first approach explains why Android users must download a 24MB language pack for each supported language.
While the translation feature is powerful, some Android users may find it slightly clunky. To translate a message using in-app functionality, long-press it, then tap the three-dot icon in the top-right corner to access translation options. Fortunately, WhatsApp has added a time-saving option: Android users can enable automatic translation for entire chat threads, so every incoming message is translated automatically.
This update supports 1:1 chats, group conversations, and Channel updates, making it versatile for both personal and professional communication. As WhatsApp executes its global deployment, more languages will follow in upcoming updates, further enhancing the capabilities of WhatsApp in-app translation.
TF Summary: What’s Next
WhatsApp’s native translation feature is a game-changer for its massive international user base. By prioritising privacy and convenience, WhatsApp is positioning itself as a leading global communication tool. Android users benefit greatly from the automatic translation option, while iOS users enjoy a wide range of supported languages.
MY FORECAST: Expect Meta to expand WhatsApp’s supported languages quickly and integrate translation into other services (i.e., Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Threads).
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech