The Translate app, introduced in iOS 14, allows you to quickly translate between languages using text or voice input. With speech output, support for a dozen languages, and a comprehensive built-in dictionary, it’s an essential tool for travelers or students.
By default, the app uses cloud services to perform translations. However, you can also enable offline translation on your iPhone running this app by downloading the languages.
As a disclaimer, Apple warns that the offline translations might not be as accurate as online translations. This is because in the offline mode, the app does not use Apple’s cloud computing’s ability to deliver the best translated results.
Still, it’s handy if you do not have a network connection, especially while traveling to third world countries where Internet bandwidth is poor. It is also ideal if you have a sensitive job and do not want any translation data transferred over the Internet or potentially stored in the cloud
Let’s explore how to setup offline translation.
This is for the iPhone running iOS 14
Accessing Translate
First, launch Settings (the Gear icon). Refer to below image:
Next, scroll way down and tap Translate. See below image:
Enable On Device
Now, toggle to On the label On device mode. See following image:
Download Languages
A pop-up will be displayed alerting you that you need to download languages to translate locally on your device. Just tap Open App. Refer to below image:
Next, a pop-up message will be displayed about the download of languages. See below image:
On the next screen, tap either of the two language pair buttons at top of the page. See following image:
In the list that appears, scroll down to the Available Offline Languages section. Now, tap the language you want to use offline, and it will download automatically. Please wait for the download to finish.
Now, repeat the above procedure for other language(s).
Once a language is downloaded, a checkmark will appear beside it. In my example, I have downloaded Spanish, so now I have English and Spanish for offline translations. Refer to below image:
Translate Off Line
Next, tap Done in upper right-hand corner and you will be returned to the main Translate screen. Now, type in your text and the app will translate as usual but without a network connection. All of your translations will stay on your local device. See below example for translation from English to Spanish:
To return to cloud service translation, just toggle Off the label On device mode in Settings.
You are finished! You now have mastered offline translation on your iPhone.
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