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

In the Translate app, you can translate text from images on your phone. With some devices, you can also translate text you find through your camera.

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

To translate text with your camera:

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Translate app .
2. Choose the languages 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. On the app home screen, tap Camera .
   • To translate text from an image you’ve already captured: tap All Images .
   • To translate what you find through your camera:
     1. Point your camera at the text you want to translate.
     2. Tap Shutter Button .

Tip: To freeze the translated text in camera view, tap Shutter .

Translate part of text

You can select sections of an image to translate.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Translate app .
2. Choose the languages 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. Tap Camera   and use the Shutter Button .
4. To view Translate options, tap Expand .
   • Toggle to turn on Show original text, below the language picker.
5. Select text
   • Tap any word to select it, then drag the selection anchors to adjust the selected text. The translated text will show up in the card.
   • If you turn on Show original text it will show the captured text untranslated. 

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

Work with translated text

Once the text in an image is translated, you can do things like copy the text, have it read aloud, or send it to Translate Home for more information.

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 .

Use offline camera translations

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

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Translate app .
2. Tap the Camera .
3. Tap the Language picker.
4. Download the language(s) you’d like your translation in.

After the download is complete, camera translations will work for the downloaded language(s) even when you're disconnected from the internet.

Get the best results

To get the best translation results for your images:

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

Send feedback

To send feedback, tap Enter Text  Menu   Send feedback .

Related resources

• Download & use Google Translate

• Translate with handwriting or virtual keyboard