WhatsApp on iPhone will get automatic chat translation without compromising encryption
iPhone users may soon gain access to a new feature in WhatsApp that allows them to communicate with people who speak a different language. In the latest beta version of the app on TestFlight, a separate ‘Translate Messages’ toggle has been spotted, which can be enabled for each chat individually.
Once this option is activated, all new incoming messages in the selected chat will be translated automatically. Users will be able to choose the source language and the target language for the translation themselves. In the example shown, messages were automatically translated into English.
Currently, translating individual messages in WhatsApp is more complicated. To do this, the user must press and hold a message, then select “More…” and manually set the source and target languages.
The new feature changes the approach entirely: instead of translating individual snippets, it will allow the entire conversation to be translated by default. It is expected that this feature will work in both private and group chats, provided all participants send messages in the same language.
As with the existing translation of individual messages, the new feature uses Apple language packs installed directly on the device. The translation itself takes place locally, so end-to-end encryption of chats is maintained.
Apple currently supports Arabic, Dutch, British and US English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese for mainland China and Taiwan, Polish, Portuguese for Brazil, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.
As Apple continues to expand language support in its ‘Translate’ app, the list of languages available in WhatsApp is expected to grow accordingly.
There is currently no official timeline for the full rollout of this feature to all users. As with other new features appearing in WhatsApp test builds via TestFlight, the dates for its public release have not yet been announced.
As a reminder, Apple has launched a new Hello Apple account on Instagram
