WhatsApp can translate messages itself now. Long-press a message and choose Translate. On Android you can also switch on automatic translation for a whole chat, so new incoming messages arrive translated. The translation happens on your phone, so your chats stay end-to-end encrypted.
That covers most people most of the time. Here is how it works, where it stops, and what to do when it isn't enough.
Translating a single message
- Open the chat and long-press the message you want to read.
- Tap Translate. On some Android versions it sits under the ⋮ menu.
- The first time, WhatsApp asks you to download the language. That download is what lets it translate on your phone instead of sending the text anywhere.
The translation shows under the original message, only for you. The other person sees nothing different.
Translating a whole chat automatically
On Android, WhatsApp can translate every new incoming message in a chat without you asking each time. Open the chat, look for the translation option in its menu, and choose the language. In 2026 the same option was reported as rolling out to iPhone.
What it can't do (yet)
- Language coverage is limited. Message translation launched in 2025 with a handful of languages on Android and around 19 on iPhone. Check whether your language pair is supported before you rely on it.
- It only translates what you receive. Your replies go out in the language you type them in. If the other person hasn't turned translation on, they read your language.
- Voice notes and calls aren't translated. It is a text feature.
- Each person sets it up themselves. That is fine between two people who are used to their phones, and a real hurdle with a grandparent or someone less technical.
When a translating messenger fits better
If you and the other person share a language most of the time, stay on WhatsApp. It is private, everyone has it, and translating the odd message is now easy.
If every message needs translating, in both directions, WhatsApp's approach gets tiring: every message needs a tap, or both of you need to set it up and hope your languages are covered. That is the situation we built Oralingo for:
- Each person picks their language once, and every message arrives already translated, both ways.
- Voice messages are translated too, and can be read aloud in your language.
- Voice and video calls show live translated captions while you hear the real voice.
- It covers more than 100 languages.
Two honest trade-offs. The other person needs the Oralingo app, and Oralingo is not end-to-end encrypted, because translation happens on our servers. We explain what that means in Is Oralingo end-to-end encrypted?
Can I use both?
Yes, and plenty of people do: WhatsApp for everyone who speaks their language, Oralingo for the conversations where language is the barrier. There is a side-by-side comparison of Oralingo, WhatsApp and Telegram if you want the details.
WhatsApp changes its features often. This post reflects WhatsApp's own announcements as of September 2026.
