Translate images

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

Translate text in images

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

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

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Translate app .
2. Choose the language you want to translate to and from.
   • From: Choose a language or tap Detect language.
   • To: Select the language you want the translation in.
3. Under the text box, tap Camera .
4. You can choose to translate text from an image on your phone, or from text you find through your camera.
   • To translate text from an image on your phone: Tap Import .
   • To translate what you find through your camera:
     1. Point your camera at the text you want to translate.
     2. Tap 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. Choose the language you want.
   • From: At the bottom left, choose a language or tap Detect language .
   • To: At the bottom right, choose a language.
3. Tap Camera .
4. To expand the language picker, tap .
5. To enable translation of specific words or phrases in the original text, turn on Show original text.
6. Select text
   • Tap any word to select it, then drag the selection anchors to adjust the selected text.
7. The translated text will show up in the card below. If you turn off Show original text it will show the captured text untranslated. 
   • If the text is too long to view in the card: drag the card up.
8. Select the part of the image to translate or tap Select all.
   • To translate text from an image you've already captured: tap All Images .

 

 Work with translated text

Once the text in the image is translated, at the bottom of the screen, you can copy the text, have it read aloud, or send it to Translate Home.

1. Select the part of the text you want to take action on.
2. At the bottom, choose an option from the carousel:
   • Copy text: To copy the text, select the text you’d like to copy and  tap 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 .

Get the best results

To get the best translation results for your photos:

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

Send feedback

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