New WhatsApp feature enables offline message translation

WhatsApp is expanding its user experience by introducing a new feature that allows real-time message translation directly within the app.

The Chat Translate feature, currently being tested among Android users, aims to improve communication across different languages without compromising privacy.

With more than 3.2 billion active users across over 180 countries, WhatsApp has become a leading instant messaging platform.

Known for its commitment to privacy, free access, and wide range of features, the app is now adding another tool to simplify how users interact in multiple languages.

According to WABetaInfo, the new Chat Translate function is part of the latest beta version, WhatsApp for Android 2.25.12.25.

This update introduces a translation tool that runs entirely on the user’s device, ensuring messages remain private and encrypted.

The feature builds on WhatsApp’s existing technology for transcribing voice messages and leverages the same internal systems for offline translation.

The Chat Translate feature allows users to translate messages from one language to another within the chat.

It uses downloadable language packs instead of cloud services, which means messages stay on the device and are not sent to Meta servers or any third parties.

This supports WhatsApp's focus on preserving end-to-end encryption and protecting user privacy.

To use the feature, users can enable translation options from the chat info screen.

They can also select a preferred language for each conversation, or choose to manually translate individual messages by tapping on them and selecting the "Translate" option from the menu.

Another notable part of the feature is the language pack’s ability to detect the language of a message automatically. This is particularly useful in group chats where multiple languages are spoken.

Once the necessary language pack is downloaded, translations can happen instantly, even without an internet connection.

Currently, WhatsApp supports translation in Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Portuguese (Brazil), and Russian.

The company plans to add more languages in future updates, further enhancing its accessibility to global users.

One of the main highlights of the Chat Translate feature is that all translations occur locally on the device.

This means original and translated messages are not shared with Meta, even when users provide feedback on the translation's accuracy.

Users have full control over the feature and can update or turn off translation preferences from the chat info section. They can also delete downloaded language packs through the app’s storage settings to manage space on their device.

Although the feature is still in the beta testing stage, it is being released to more testers gradually. Its wider release will depend on how well it performs and the feedback received from early users.

As WhatsApp continues to evolve, the Chat Translate feature is expected to become a valuable addition for users who engage with contacts from diverse language backgrounds.

By keeping translations offline and secure, the platform is staying true to its privacy-first approach while offering more tools for global communication.