Turn on microphone access. On iOS, open Settings, tap Privacy and then Microphone. You’ll also need to make sure in device settings that you give Google Translate permission to access the microphone on your phone. On Android, open Settings, and tap Privacy. And to help improve the service, Google may keep a transcription of a conversation for “a limited period of time.” Google also wants you to make sure you have consent from the people around you before you translate their words. Google points out that any audio you record for translation purposes will be transmitted to the company for processing.

In Google Translate, you can see a translation on the screen or tap the speaker icon to hear it read aloud. Then drag your finger to highlight specific text.Īnother option lets you tap Import to translate text from a photo already in your library. Or you can tap Scan to have the phone scan and capture whatever is in front of the camera. On Android if you tap Camera, you can tap an Instant button to immediately translate whatever words show up on the screen. Incidentally, in Camera mode on the iPhone, the Google Translate name changes to Google Lens, a feature within the broader Google app. You can also snap a picture and select the words you want to translate. On the iPhone if you tap Camera inside Google Translate, recognized text in the original language is overwritten by the app.

This can be handy not only while traveling, but also if a loved one, friend or someone you've hired is more comfortable speaking in their native language, but you're not fluent. While in this mode, you can also tap a Both button on the iPhone or an Auto button on Android to have the phone listen for both languages. When you tap Conversation, two people can speak in turn, each by pressing a microphone button and watching words appear in both languages.

Google scan translate