Translate

Translate text and speech between two languages, and hear the result read aloud.

The Translate screen is built for talking to someone across a language barrier while you are standing in front of them. You set a language on each side, then either type or speak into either side. The app converts the words, shows the result on screen, and can read the translation out loud at a speed you choose. Everything you translate is saved automatically, with the audio from spoken lines, so you can go back over a conversation later.

Overview

Item	What it does
From button	Sets the language on the first side and opens the language list
To button	Sets the language on the second side and opens the language list
From label	Shows the chosen language name and its code, for example Spanish (es)
To label	Shows the chosen language name and its code
From text box	Type here, or watch your dictated words appear as you speak
To text box	The same, for the other language
Converted text box	Shows the finished translation, and shows Translating.. while it works
Convert action	Starts the translation for that side's typed text
Clear action	Empties that side's text box
Speak buttons	Start and stop voice dictation on that side
Speed buttons	Set how fast that side's translation is read aloud
Volume slider	Sets the device output volume used for spoken translations
Three-dot button	Opens the single menu option, Logs, which goes to your saved sessions
Back button	Stops any recording in progress and leaves the screen
Return to Mobile Data Com button	Only appears when you reached Translate from the Mobile Data Com area

Getting Here

1. Open the app to Home.
2. Tap Translate.
3. The screen opens with both sides set to English. Set the two languages you need before you start.

When the screen opens it also asks for speech recognition permission if you have not granted it yet, because voice input needs it.

note

A star (*) in front of a language name means that language has been downloaded to the device and works with no connection. The code in brackets next to the language name is its short language code.

Choosing Languages

1. Tap the From button to open the language list.
   • Languages are listed by name in your device's language, in alphabetical order.
   • Each row shows the language name, with a * if it is downloaded, and its code underneath.
2. Tap a language to select it. The name appears on the From button, on the From label with its code, and on the From Speak button.
3. Tap the To button and choose the second language the same way.

Your connection	What the list contains
Online	Every supported language
Offline	Only the languages already downloaded to the device

What the chosen language allows:

Condition	Effect
The device supports speech recognition for that language	That side's Speak button becomes usable
The device does not support it	That side's Speak button stays dimmed and cannot be tapped
The language pack is not downloaded yet	It is downloaded automatically the first time you translate with it, over mobile data if needed, and it can continue downloading in the background

tip

Download the languages you expect to need before you go somewhere with no signal. Run one short translation in each direction while you still have a connection — that pulls the language packs down, and they then show a * and keep working offline.

Translating Typed Text

1. Tap inside the From text box (or the To box) and type.
2. Tap that side's convert action.
3. The converted box shows Translating.. while the work runs, then the finished text replaces it.
4. Read the result. It has already been added to your saved session.
5. Tap that side's clear action to empty the box before the next phrase.

Which side you convert	Direction
From side	From language into the To language
To side	To language back into the From language

note

Converting an empty box does nothing at all — type something first. Only the box you convert is used, so text left in the other box is ignored.

Translating by Voice

1. Tap the Speak button on the side you want to talk in.
   • The button's background turns orange, the device gives a short vibration, and its icon changes to a stop symbol.
   • Recording and live transcription both start.
2. Speak clearly and at a normal pace. Your words appear in that side's text box as you talk, and keep correcting themselves as the app hears more.
3. Tap Speak again to stop.
   • The button returns to its normal color and microphone icon, a second vibration confirms the stop, and the converted box shows Translating..
   • A moment later the translation appears.
4. The translation is read aloud automatically after voice input, and the recording is saved with the session line.

You can also press and hold the Speak button instead of tapping twice: recording runs while you hold it and the translation starts when you let go.

Requirement	If it is missing
Speech recognition permission	Dictation does not work; grant it and reopen the screen
Microphone permission	Nothing is recorded
Device support for that language	The Speak button stays dimmed
An installed voice for the target language	The text still appears, but a "Language voice not supported." message shows instead of speech

caution

The orange button means you are recording. Recording continues until you tap it again, so glance at the button before you put the phone down — a button left orange keeps recording the room.

Setting Playback Speed

Each side has its own speed setting, so you can read slowly to the other person while hearing their words back at normal speed.

1. Tap the speed button on the side you want to change.
2. Choose a speed.
3. That speed is used the next time that side's translation is spoken.

Speed option	Use it when
Very Slow (0.25x)	The listener is struggling, or the phrase is critical
Slow (0.5x)	Noisy scene, or an unfamiliar accent
Normal (1.0x)	Default for both sides
Fast (1.5x)	Long sentences you already understand
Very Fast (2.0x)	Skimming a long passage

The default on both sides is Normal (1.0x). Changing the speed stops anything currently being spoken so the new speed takes effect straight away rather than queueing behind it.

Adjusting Volume

1. Drag the volume slider left or right. A small bubble shows the value as you drag.
2. The scale runs from 0 to 100.
3. The slider is tied to the device's own output volume, so pressing the hardware volume buttons moves the slider too, and moving the slider changes the device volume.

tip

Set the volume near the top before you hand the phone to someone. Spoken translations come out of the speaker, and outdoors at a low volume they are easy to miss.

Viewing Saved Sessions

1. Tap the three-dot button in the top corner.
2. Tap Logs.
3. The Translate Sessions list opens with one row per saved session.

info

There is nothing to save by hand. The first translation you run creates a session, every later line is added to it, and spoken lines carry their audio recording with them.

How This Connects

• Where translation happens. Converting text uses language packs on the device, not a live service, which is why a downloaded language keeps working with no signal and why the first use of a new language needs a download. Downloads are allowed over mobile data and can finish in the background.
• Where your sessions are kept. Sessions and their lines are stored on this device. They are not shared with your organization and do not follow you to another device — see Translate Sessions and Session Detail.
• Where the audio goes. A spoken line's recording is saved on the device so it can be played back in the session, and a copy is also uploaded for your organization's records in the background. A failed upload does not affect local playback.
• Permissions it needs. Voice input depends on microphone and speech recognition access, granted during setup or in your device settings — see Permissions.
• Date display. Session rows and line times follow the date format saved in App Defaults.
• Audio behavior. Spoken translations use the device speaker and interact with other audio in the app, so expect them to interrupt or be interrupted by radio and call audio — see Audio Channels and Choose Speaker.
• Offline and reconnect. With no connection the language pickers only offer downloaded languages, translation between two downloaded languages works normally, and sessions still save. A language that is not downloaded cannot be used until you are back online long enough to fetch it.

Troubleshooting

If this happens	What to do
The converted box is stuck on Translating..	The language pack is downloading. Stay on a connection and wait, then try the phrase again.
A message about a failed download or a failed translation appears	The language pack could not be fetched. Check your connection and try again; over mobile data a large pack takes a while.
A language is missing from the list	You are offline, so only downloaded languages are offered. Reconnect to see the full list.
The Speak button is dimmed	Your device does not support dictation in that language. Type instead, or pick a closely related language.
Dictation does nothing	Speech recognition or microphone permission is missing. Grant it in device settings and reopen Translate.
Words appear then change while you speak	Normal — the transcription corrects itself as it hears more of the sentence.
"Language voice not supported." appears	No installed voice matches the target language. The text is still correct; read it out or show the screen.
You hear nothing when it should speak	Raise the volume slider, check the device is not silenced, and confirm no other audio is holding the speaker.
The wrong direction was translated	Convert from the side you typed in: converting the From side translates into the To language, and the other way round.
Nothing appears in Logs	No translation has finished yet. A session is only created once the first translation completes.

Related Pages

• Translate Sessions
• Translate Session Detail

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Next: Translate Sessions ➡️