You can customize your preferences for the Translate app in Settings. Download languages, use on-device translation, or choose a different default translation app.
On-device translation keeps processing on your iPhone instead of Apple servers, even without an internet connection. With Automatic, translations may be processed on Apple servers when the languages aren’t downloaded. With Always, translations are always processed on your iPhone using your downloaded languages, which also work for Live Translation and offline use.
Here’s how to change your Translate settings on iPhone.
Download languages
For on-device translation, Live Translation, or offline use, download languages first.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Apps, tap Translate, and tap Languages.
- Tap the Download button next to the languages you want to download.
Choose when to use on-device translation
On-device translation processes your translations on your iPhone rather than on Apple servers, and it works even without an internet connection.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Apps and then tap Translate.
- Set On-Device Translation to one of the following options:
- Automatic: Translations are processed on your device when the languages are downloaded; otherwise, translations may be processed on Apple servers.
- Always: Translations are always processed on your device using your downloaded languages.
Choose a default translation app
You can change the default if you have multiple translation apps.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Apps and then tap Translate.
- Tap Default Translation App, then choose an app.