WhatsApp's 'Translate Messages' available to Android beta users
WhatsApp is introducing a new in-app translation feature, currently available to Android beta users (not everyone). This tool allows users to translate messages directly within the app, supporting both individual chats and channel updates.
Translations occur entirely on the user's device, ensuring privacy and enabling offline functionality.
- On-Device Translation: Messages are translated locally, maintaining user privacy and allowing use without an internet connection.
- Language Packs: Users can download language packs for offline translation. Initially, the feature supports English, Hindi, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, and Portuguese (Brazil).
- Automatic Language Detection: The feature can automatically detect the language of incoming messages, streamlining the translation process.
- User Control: Users can enable or disable the translation feature per chat and manage language packs through the app's settings.
According to WABetaInfo, this translate feature in WhatsApp will be available via the “Chat lock” settings and will allow users to translate chats on a per-conversation basis.
There will be more than 5 languages in the initial release, and more languages will be added later.
Here’s a list of expected languages for the WhatsApp translation feature:
- Hindi,
- Arabic,
- Spanish,
- Russian, and more
The feature was first spotted on a WhatsApp beta version in July 2024, but we had never heard of it until now.
Some media outlets are reporting a misleading title that the feature has been officially rolled out or has been released to Android users, but that's not true; this feature is currently in beta testing as it has been spotted in the whatsapp beta version 2.25.12.25, with a wider release expected in the coming months.
