WhatsApp has begun rolling out a new in-app translation feature that allows users to instantly translate messages within chats, making cross-language communication easier than ever.
With more than 3 billion users across 180+ countries, WhatsApp says the goal is to help people stay connected regardless of language barriers.
How It Works
Users can now long-press any WhatsApp message and tap the new Translate option. They can select the source and target language, and even download a language pack for offline use. This feature will be available across individual chats, group conversations, and Channel updates.
On Android, users will also have the option to enable automatic translation for entire chats, ensuring all incoming messages in that conversation are translated by default.
Privacy First
WhatsApp emphasized that translations are processed locally on the user’s device, ensuring that neither Meta nor WhatsApp can access the content of private conversations.
Rollout and Supported Languages
The rollout starts today for both Android and iOS:
- Android users: Translation initially available in 6 languages — English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic.
- iPhone users: Access to 19+ languages at launch, with more to follow.
With the gradual rollout, WhatsApp aims to bring seamless communication to millions of multilingual users worldwide.