How to Use Google Translate's Camera to Read Signs and Menus

Google Translate is a free app that can do much more than translate text you type in. One of its most impressive features is camera translation. You point your phone camera at text in another language and the app overlays a translation in real time, right on top of the original text.

This is incredibly useful for: - Reading menus at foreign-cuisine restaurants where the menu is partly or entirely in another language - Understanding product labels, signs, or instructions in a foreign language - Translating documents or letters received in another language - Traveling and reading street signs, transit instructions, or tourist information

The real-time (instant) camera translation works with over 90 languages. For most common languages (Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, etc.) the translation appears within a second or two as you move the camera.

There is also a "Photo" mode where you take a picture of text and then tap words to get translations — more accurate for complex or small text.

Google Translate is free on iPhone (App Store) and Android (Google Play). On Android, Google Translate is often pre-installed. The camera translation feature requires no subscription.