An instant translator in your pocket?! Did you know that your iPhone is not only a valuable device for endlessly scrolling through Instagram, but also a pretty effective language interpreter? Yes, that's right – no additional apps, no registrations, no panicking about finding WiFi in a foreign restaurant. Just open the camera and let the technology do its thing. Welcome to the 21st century, where your phone understands menus better than you do.
An instant translator in your pocket?! I recently embarked on a mini European tour, and like any modern nomad, I regularly had to interpret everything from signs, to packaging, to gourmet menus that sounded like poetry—but were completely incomprehensible to me. While I was ready to use Google Translate or Apple's Translate app, I accidentally discovered that my iPhone it does the work itself – inside the camera. No magic, just the Live Text feature.
How it works? Easier than finding the nearest gas station – an instant translator in your pocket
Open the Camera app and point the lens at the text. After a few moments, your phone will detect that something interesting is happening—a subtle yellow frame will appear around the text. Click the button that appears in the bottom right corner (or top right if you’re holding your phone horizontally), then tap “Translate” in the left corner. Et voilà—the text will be converted to your system language. Hopefully, you didn’t accidentally set it to Icelandic.
To copy, share, or even hear how the translation sounds in the original or target language, tap on the translated text - a mini window opens with all the features you'd expect from a real translator, without the tie and hourly rate.
What languages does it support? Quite a few, thank you very much.
Live Text, which works in conjunction with Apple's Translate app, currently supports translation between more than twenty languages - including Arabic, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Dutch, British English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish (Spanish), Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. Quite a nice bunch, right?
If the feature doesn't work for you, first check if you have the “Show detected text” option turned on in Settings > Camera. If it's turned off there, your iPhone will of course ignore you. Instant translator in your pocket!
And when the camera isn't enough: Live Translate in iOS 26
Apple didn't stop there. With iOS 26 comes a new star on the translation stage – Live Translate. This feature allows for real-time translation during messages, FaceTime conversations, and even regular phone calls. If you have the right AirPods, you'll hear the translation directly in your ears, and the person you're talking to will see your words translated on their iPhone screen. So yes, now you can speak Italian to your neighbor's grandma—no lessons, no dictionaries, and no shame.
Conclusion: Your pocket translator without a subscription
Apple is quietly adding features that would have deserved a standalone keynote just a few years ago. But here we are – with a phone that can translate blackboards, read ingredients, and solve your culinary dilemmas in foreign restaurants. And all without opening an additional app.
So, the next time you’re standing in front of a Belgian menu with long, poetic descriptions of dishes and nothing you understand, don’t panic. Just point your camera, click “Translate,” and enjoy the elegant translation magic. Bon appétit, guten Appetit, buon appetito – or whatever you want. It’s an instant translator in your pocket.
PS Have you used this feature before? Did it save you from a dilemma? Share your stories below - we'll share the funniest ones on our Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Do I need an internet connection to translate via camera?
Partly. Although the iPhone can translate some languages offline, for the most accurate translations (and support for multiple languages) it is recommended to have internet access. So yes – WiFi or roaming can come in handy if you don’t want to end up with “baked shoe” instead of “baked fish”.
2. Where exactly can I find the translation feature in the camera?
When you point your camera at text, an icon with letters will appear at the edge of the screen (depending on the orientation - portrait or landscape). Tap it, then select "Translate". If you don't see anything - make sure you have the "Show detected text" option turned on in the camera settings.
3. Does it work on older iPhones?
Live Text has been available since iOS 15, but full in-camera translation (without an additional app) has been enabled since iOS 16. If you have an iPhone 11 or later and an updated system, you're on the safe side. If you're still using an iPhone 6... well, it's time to upgrade.
4. Can I use this feature for handwriting as well or just printed text?
Unfortunately, Live Text (for now) specializes in printed, machine-generated text. Grandma's handwriting or poetic notes on a coffee shop chalkboard remain in a gray area—unless Grandma has the hand of a surgeon.
5. I've translated the text - now what? Can I do something with it?
Of course! You can copy, send, save to favorites, read aloud, or open it in the Translate app for even more options. It's almost like having a personal translator—except it doesn't ask for coffee every 10 minutes.
