CALIFORNIA: WhatsApp is creating a feature that will translate messages between 21 languages through automatic translation. The feature is currently under development.
The new system will expand WhatsApp’s current translation system, which requires users to translate messages by selecting them and pressing a “Translate” button.
The upcoming update will remove this step by enabling automatic translations within chats. Users will be able to activate the feature from the chat settings, selecting both the source and target languages.
The chosen language will automatically translate incoming messages after users enable the feature; users will still have access to the original text.
To maintain privacy, translations will be processed locally on the device using your phone’s system-level APIs. This system keeps messages secure because WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, which prevents message access from third-party servers.
The system requires users to download language packs before they can use instant translations without internet access. The system will work for both private and group messaging.
Group members need to speak a common language for automatic translation to function. The system will not translate messages that contain either unsupported languages or multiple languages.
Users will need to check their specific iOS or Android version because older versions of the system will not enable access to all available language packs. Future updates will introduce additional language support. The automatic translation feature is still in development and will be rolled out to beta testers before a wider release.
