Nowadays, understanding other languages from your mobile phone has become so easy that many people are unaware of all the tools at their disposal. But if you have an iPhone, you're in luck: Apple's operating system includes translation features built right into iOS, and it does so seamlessly, privately, and with truly surprising results.
Whether you're browsing the internet, reading a text message, or even trying to decipher what a sign on the street says in another language, your iPhone can help you translate that text instantly. The best part? Many of these tools work even without an internet connection.
In this article, we'll go over in detail all the ways you can translate text on your iPhone, taking full advantage of all the capabilities of iOS.
Translate selected text in supported apps
One of the most convenient and fastest features included in iOS is the ability to translate text directly from any app that allows you to select words, such as Safari, Mail, or Messages. This means that if you are reading a page in another language or someone sends you a message with a phrase in English, French or German, for example, you can translate it instantly without having to copy and paste or use third-party applications.
The procedure is very simple:
- Open the app where the text is located (Safari, Mail, Messages, etc.).
- Select the text you want to translate.
- In the context menu, tap on TranslateIf it doesn't appear, tap the options arrow to display the rest of the functions.
- Choose the language you want to translate it into.
Once the translation is displayed, you can do several useful things with it:
- Replace with translation: In editable texts, you can directly replace the original sentence with its translated version.
- Copy translation: ideal if you want to paste it into another app or send it via message.
- Add to favorites: save that translation in your favorites history to refer to later.
- Open in Translate: takes you directly to Apple's official translation app for more options.
- Download languages: If you want to translate even offline, you can download language packs.
- Listen to the original or translated text: very useful when you are learning a language or need to hear the pronunciation.
Translating text in the real world with the iPhone camera
Have you ever come across a sign or menu in another language while traveling? Well, with your iPhone you don't need to copy anything or even write. Just open the camera and point. It's that simple.
With the function of Live Text (Live Text), iOS is capable of recognizing printed text in the physical environment and processing it in real time. This means you can point your camera at any sign, piece of paper, informational poster, or label, and the system will automatically detect it as editable text.
How do you translate with the camera?
There are two main ways to translate text with the camera:
- From the Translate app: Open the native app that comes with your iPhone, go to the tab Camera and point it at the text in question. Tap the shutter button and you'll see the translation generated instantly.
- Directly from the Camera app: Simply open the camera and focus on the text. A Live Text button will appear in the lower right corner. When you tap it, the iPhone will detect the text and display options. In the lower left corner, you'll see the Live Text button. Translate. Click and the content will be translated without you having to take a photo.
This feature is especially useful when you are traveling. Or if you're dealing with printed text such as instructions, menus, documents, or labels. Plus, since you don't have to capture the image, the entire process is extremely fast and fluid.
The Translate app: the all-in-one solution
Beyond the functions distributed in the system, Apple also offers its own dedicated application: TranslateThis app allows you to translate text, hold bilingual conversations, view saved translations, and translate from the camera, as we've already seen.
Its most notable features include::
- Translation of written text: You can type or paste the content and have it translated instantly.
- Speech recognition: Dictate sentences and the app will automatically translate them, showing both text and audio.
- Offline language: Download language packs so you don't have to rely on the internet when you travel.
- Favorites and history: You can save useful translations and easily refer to them later.
- Conversation mode: ideal for talking in real time with someone who doesn't speak your language.
Additionally, since many of these translations are processed on-device by Apple's artificial intelligence, your privacy is guaranteed, since information is not sent to external servers, especially when using offline features.
Compatibility and system requirements
To enjoy these features it is necessary to have an iPhone with at least iOS 15, although The experience improves significantly in iOS 16, where camera translations are faster and more accurate.
It's also important that your device has the appropriate system language enabled to correctly display the translate option when selecting text. If it doesn't appear, it's a good idea to check the language settings from Settings > General > Language & region.
Extra tips to get the most out of your translations
- Download frequently used languages If you travel a lot or don't always have an internet connection, this will allow the app to work offline.
- Save translations you use often in favorites. This way, you'll have quick access without having to retype them.
- Use conversation mode to communicate with foreigners. It's a fluid, intuitive, and very useful feature.
- Adjust system languages so that the “Translate” option is displayed on all the texts you select.
What sets Apple's translation apart from other options?
Compared to tools like Google Translate, Apple's solution has several important advantages:
- Full integration with the system: You don't need to leave the app you're using to translate.
- Enhanced Privacy: Translations are processed locally on the device, without sending data to the cloud.
- Speed: Being within the system, the translation is immediate.
- No need to copy/paste: You can translate text on the fly, even from the camera.
Being able to translate text anywhere in the operating system—simply by selecting it, pointing the camera, or dictating it with your voice—turns the iPhone into a powerful and highly accessible linguistic tool. If you haven't tried these features yet, you'll be amazed at how easy and useful it is to have a built-in translator in such an elegant and effective way.
