How to Use the Apple Translate App

Apple includes a free Translate app on every iPhone and iPad running iOS 17 or later — and it's often overlooked because people don't realize it's there. It can translate spoken words, typed text, and real-time conversations between two people speaking different languages. It also works offline for several languages, which is useful when traveling without cell service.

The app supports over a dozen languages including Spanish, French, German, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, and more. For families where different members speak different primary languages — or for medical or business situations where a translator isn't available — this app can bridge significant communication gaps.

The Conversation mode is the most impressive feature. Two people sit across from each other with one iPhone between them. Each person speaks in their own language, and the app automatically detects who's speaking and translates each person's words for the other. You can even put it in Auto Translate mode where it listens continuously without needing to press a button.

For reading signs, menus, or documents in a foreign language, Apple's Translate integrates with the camera through the Live Text feature (iOS 17+). You can point the camera at text and tap to translate it on-screen.