WhatsApp has started rolling out a new feature that lets users translate messages directly in the app. The update is available for both iOS and Android users.
On Android, translations are currently supported between six languages: English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic. iPhone users get access to a wider list of languages, as the feature is based on Apple’s Translate app. The supported languages on iOS include Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.
To translate a message, users can long-press on it and choose the “Translate” option. They can then select the language they want to translate the message to or from. Android users will also get an extra option to enable automatic translations for an entire chat, making it easier to follow conversations in another language.
WhatsApp says translations are handled on the device itself. This means the company still cannot read encrypted chats. Language packs are downloaded to the device to make future translations faster. The feature works in one-on-one chats, group chats, and even Channel updates. More languages are expected to be added later.
At the moment, message translations are not available on WhatsApp Web or the Windows app. The company notes that the feature is being rolled out gradually and may not appear for everyone right away. Users are advised to keep their app updated to receive the option as soon as it becomes available.
