Translate images

You can use your phone’s camera to translate text in the Translate app . For example, you can translate signs or handwritten notes.

Translate text in images

You can translate text you find through your camera and from images on your phone in the Translate app . 

Important: The translation accuracy depends on the clarity of the text. Translation of small, unclear, or stylized text may not be correct.

To translate text with your camera:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Translate app .
2. Choose the languages that you want to translate to and from.
   • From: At the bottom, choose a language or tap Detect language .
   • To: At the bottom, select the language that you want the translation in.
3. Under the text box, tap Camera .
   • To translate text from an image that you've already captured: Tap Gallery .
   • To translate text through your camera:
     1. Point your camera at the text that you want to translate.
     2. Watch the translation instantly happen.
     3. To pause the image, tap the Shutter button .

Translate part of text

You can select sections of an image to translate.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Translate app .
2. Select the languages that you want to translate to and from.
   • From: At the bottom, select a language or tap Detect language .
   • To: At the bottom, select the language that you want the translation in.
3. Tap Camera   the Shutter button .
4. To expand the settings panel, at the top of the page, tap Translate options .
5. Turn on Show original text .
6. To select a word, tap it.
7. To change your selection and display the translated text in the card below, drag the selection anchors.

Tip: If the text is too long to view in the card, drag the card up.

Work with translated text

Once the text in the image is translated, you can perform various actions, like copy the text, have it read aloud, or get more information.

1. Select the part of the text that you want to take action on.
2. At the bottom, choose an option from the carousel:
   • Copy text: Select the text that you’d like to copy  Copy text .
   • Listen: To have Translate read your translated text, tap Listen .
   • Send to Translate Home: To get more information, tap Send to Translate Home .
   • Search: To search translated text on Google, tap Search .

Use offline camera translations

To use camera translations offline, download the languages that you want to translate to and from.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Translate app .
2. Tap the Camera .
3. Tap the language picker.
4. Download the languages that you like to translate to and from.

Get the best results

To get the best translation results for your images:

• Check that the “Translate from” and “Translate to” languages are correct.
• Use a strong network connection.
• In low light, tap Camera Flash .
• Use clear and commonly used fonts.

Send feedback

To send feedback, at the top, tap More   Send Feedback.

Related resources

• Download & use Google Translate

• Translate with handwriting or virtual keyboard