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How offline translation works
Most translation apps send your text to a server and get the translation back; with no internet, they stop working. With on-device translation, the language model lives on the phone itself. Once it's downloaded, translation happens on the phone and needs no connection.
That has two more benefits: what you type never leaves the phone, and translations come back instantly even where the network is slow.
Before you leave
Language packs take a few dozen megabytes each, so download them on Wi-Fi at home or at the hotel:
- Open the app you'll use and choose the language of the country you're going to.
- Download the language pack; in some apps this happens by itself the first time you translate into that language.
- Turn on airplane mode and translate a short sentence to check the pack really is there.
- Check both directions: from your language into theirs, and from theirs into yours.
Which apps translate offline?
The Google Translate app lets you download languages for offline use. Apple's Translate app on iPhone can also download languages to the device. Both work as a separate app: you type the text, then copy the translation over to wherever you need it.
If you'd rather not go back and forth while chatting, a translator keyboard helps. Flow Translate's language packs also live on the phone; once downloaded, you translate offline in WhatsApp, Telegram or email.
Sending still needs internet
Keep in mind: even when translation works offline, WhatsApp needs a connection to deliver the message. Offline translation lets you prepare the message; it goes out the moment you're connected. You can write your messages and keep them ready until you get onto the hotel, café or airport Wi-Fi.
Practical tips
- Short on storage? Download only the language pairs you need.
- Translate the sentences you'll need often (your address, allergies, hotel name) in advance and save them.
- On-device translation gives its best results with short, plain sentences.