WhatsApp has announced the rollout of a new message translation feature aimed at reducing language barriers in digital communication. The functionality is being introduced gradually across Android and iOS devices and works in individual chats, group conversations, and channel updates, offering users translations in real time without leaving the messaging app.
How the Translation Works
When a user receives a message in a language they cannot understand, they can simply press and hold the message, select “Translate,” and choose the target language. For faster future translations, WhatsApp recommends downloading the relevant dictionary for offline capability. Importantly, translations are performed locally on the device, ensuring messages remain private and secure. WhatsApp emphasizes that no third parties can read or process the translated content.
On Android, the feature is more advanced, providing the option to enable automatic translation for entire chats. When turned on, all future incoming messages in a chosen conversation are translated automatically, streamlining cross-language communication.
Available Languages
The translation feature is being released with a different number of supported languages depending on the operating system. On Android, translations are initially available for six languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Russian, and Arabic. On iOS, support expands to 19 languages in total, including the six listed above plus Dutch, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese, and Ukrainian.
While WhatsApp is already present in over 180 countries, the company confirmed that the feature will be limited to this initial set of languages at launch, with plans to expand compatibility gradually.
One of WhatsApp’s key selling points is privacy, and the company has reinforced that stance with this rollout. The translations take place directly on user devices, adhering to WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption principles. This ensures that even while messages are translated, they remain accessible only to the sender and receiver.
The feature began its global deployment on September 23 and will reach users progressively over the coming weeks. WhatsApp notes that availability may vary depending on device and region, but the goal is for all users to gain access by default once the gradual release is complete.
