WhatsApp Tests New Message Translation Feature With Offline Support On Android Beta

Highlights

• WhatsApp’s latest beta enables on-device message translation using downloadable language packs.
• Users can turn on automatic translations for all chats or translate individual messages manually.
• Translations occur locally on the device to safeguard user privacy by eliminating server-based processing.

Caption – New WhatsApp feature details revealed. (Photo by Mariia Shalabaieva on Unsplash)

WhatsApp is testing a handy new feature for automatic message translation in its latest Android beta version. This new tool aims to make chatting across languages smoother and more private. Here’s what we know so far.

WhatsApp’s New Message Translation Feature

According to a recent WABetaInfo report, the feature has been spotted in WhatsApp beta version 2.25.12.25. It adds a ‘Translate Messages’ toggle in chat settings and it allows automatic on-device translation of messages in individual WhatsApp Chats and Channels once enabled.

Since WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption (E2EE), translations happen locally on your phone and not on WhatsApp’s servers keeping your conversations private.

Caption – WhatsApp’s New Message Translation Feature has been spotted on Beta. (Image credit – @WABetaInfo)

To use the translation feature, WhatsApp will prompt users to select and download language packs directly on their phone. Supported languages for now include Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese (Brazil), Hindi and Russian. Since the translations work offline, there’s no need for an internet connection once the language pack is downloaded.

Users can also choose how they want to use the feature. You can turn on automatic translations for all chats, or keep it off and translate individual messages by tapping a “Translate” option when needed. The feature is off by default and you can manage language packs or disable it entirely from the app’s settings.

WABetaInfo writes, “The translation feature is accessible from the chat info screen, where users can specify which language they want messages to be automatically translated from on a per-chat basis. This flexibility ensures that different chats can have different translation settings based on user needs. Alternatively, users can choose not to enable automatic translation and instead translate individual messages manually by opening the message options and tapping “Translate”.”

Further, feature tracker WABetaInfo notes that WhatsApp has been working on this feature since July 2024 and it’s now slowly rolling out to beta testers. There’s no word yet on a full public release, but this could be a game-changer for cross-language communication.

Recently, WhatsApp has also rolled out on-device voice note transcription to transcribe incoming audio messages.

FAQs

Q1. How does WhatsApp’s new translation feature work?

Answer. The feature enables automatic message translation using downloadable language packs. Translations occur locally on the device, ensuring privacy and offline functionality.

Q2. Can users customise how translations are applied?

Answer. Yes, users can turn on automatic translations for all chats or opt to translate individual messages manually by selecting the “Translate” option in message settings.

Q3. Which languages are supported by WhatsApp’s new translation feature?

Answer. The currently supported languages include Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese (Brazil), Hindi, and Russian with more languages likely to be added in the future.

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