A feature for automatic message translation has been discovered in the beta version of WhatsApp* for iPhone, which works at the level of an entire chat. Previously, you had to translate each message in WhatsApp* on iPhone manually, but now automation will do everything for you. The feature isn’t yet available even to beta testers, but its code is already present in the TestFlight build. Let’s break down how it works and who will find it useful.
WhatsApp for iPhone will soon offer automatic message translation into 21 languages. Image: 9to5mac.com
What Is Auto-Translation in WhatsApp on iPhone
Currently, WhatsApp* already allows you to translate individual messages: you need to long-press a message, tap “More…” and select the source and target languages. This is at best inconvenient if the conversation is in an unfamiliar language — you have to translate each message manually, and at worst very time-consuming.
How the automatic translator works in WhatsApp on iPhone. Image: 9to5mac.com
The new feature, discovered by WABetaInfo in the beta build, adds a “Translate messages” toggle directly in the settings of a specific chat. Once enabled, all new incoming messages will be automatically translated into the selected language. The user specifies the source and target languages — and everything happens without any additional actions. The feature will work in both private conversations and group chats — provided that all participants write in the same language.
Which Languages Does the WhatsApp* Translator Support
The translation relies on Apple’s language packs built into iOS. These are the same packs used by Apple’s Translate app. Currently, 21 languages are supported:
- Arabic
- Dutch
- English (UK and US)
- French
- German
- Hindi
- Indonesian
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
- Polish
- Portuguese (Brazil)
- Russian
- Spanish
- Thai
- Turkish
- Ukrainian
- Vietnamese
Russian is on the list, so the feature will be relevant for Russian-speaking users — you’ll be able to automatically translate incoming messages, for example, from English or Turkish into Russian.
When Apple adds new languages to its Translate app, they will automatically become available in WhatsApp* as well. An important point: translation is performed directly on the device, not on WhatsApp* or Apple servers. It uses language packs that are downloaded to the iPhone in advance. This means that end-to-end encryption of chats is not compromised — messages are not sent to third parties for processing.
Local translation does not compromise end-to-end encryption of conversations
For users who value privacy, this is a notable advantage over third-party translators, which typically send text to their servers.
How to Enable Automatic Chat Translation in WhatsApp
The feature is not yet active even in the beta version — its code was found in the build, but the toggle cannot be turned on. The release timeline for the stable version of WhatsApp* has not been announced. This is a standard situation for features discovered in test builds: some appear within a few weeks, some within months, and some never come out at all.
When the feature becomes available, the usage process, judging by the discovered interface elements, will be simple: open the settings of a specific chat, enable the “Translate messages” toggle, and select a language pair. After that, all new incoming messages will be translated automatically.
The main thing is to download the necessary language packs
For translation to work, you’ll need to download the required Apple language pack on your iPhone. This can be done in Settings → Apps → Translate → Languages.
Why You Need Auto-Translation of Chats in WhatsApp
The feature will be useful for those who regularly chat with people in another language: in work chats with foreign colleagues, in traveler groups, when communicating with sellers on international marketplaces. Automatic translation of an entire conversation is a completely different level of convenience compared to manually translating each individual message.
If you communicate in WhatsApp* only in Russian — you probably won’t need this feature. But for those who encounter a language barrier in at least one chat, this is a noticeable improvement. The main thing is to wait until WhatsApp* releases the feature in the stable version. For now, this is a leak from a beta build, not a confirmed release.
*owned by Meta, recognized as extremist and banned in Russia
