WhatsApp for Android is developing a real-time translation feature. Initially rumoured to use Google’s live translation technology, recent updates indicate that the feature will instead rely solely on WhatsApp’s proprietary technology.
The detail emerged in the latest beta release, but the feature remains inaccessible to those participating in the beta program, and there is no clear timeline for public availability.
In its latest update, the feature tracking service WABetaInfo highlighted that the translation process will be handled entirely on-device, ensuring that messages stay end-to-end encrypted. WABetaInfo also shared a screenshot from the latest beta version (2.24.15.12), showcasing the feature titled “Translate your message,” with WhatsApp’s assurance that all texts remain encrypted and private.
The interface requires users to automatically activate a toggle to translate messages within a chat. Users must select their preferred input and output languages and download the necessary language pack. Once set up, all messages in the chat will translate automatically, and each translated message will display a “translated” label at the bottom.
Initial support for this feature includes languages like English, Arabic, Hindi, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), and Russian, with expectations of adding more languages. The feature first appeared in the WhatsApp for Android app version 2.24.15.8, but its existence and functionality have yet to be verified by external sources.
