WhatsApp has started testing a new message translation feature on the latest beta version of the app for Android smartphones. A feature tracker has spotted a new settings option that enables seamless, automatic on-device translation of messages. WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for messages, so the new 'Translate Message' feature processes messages on the user's device and not using the company's servers. WhatsApp will ask users to select and download a language pack to use the translation feature.

WhatsApp message translation feature uses offline language packs
After updating to WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.25.12.25, some beta testers can access the new 'Translate' feature. A new toggle appears on every chat inside the Chat Lock setting. According to feature tracker WABetaInfo, the platform has been working on this feature since July 2024. The feature works across chats and WhatsApp channels.

Once the feature is rolled out, users will need to enable the Translate Messages toggle available in the chat settings of a specific conversation. After this, users will be able to select from a list of languages, which currently include Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese (Brazil), Hindi, and Russian.

After selecting the language, WhatsApp will download a language pack, which is required to enable the message translation feature. This new message translation feature works offline, meaning messages are processed on the user's device and not using Meta's servers.

The feature tracker also revealed that users can enable automatic message translation for all WhatsApp chats or choose to translate individual messages by tapping on the Translate option. The feature will be off by default and users can also disable it and manage language packs from the app's settings.

This is not the first on-device language feature to be rolled out on WhatsApp in recent months. The messaging app previously rolled out support for voice note transcription, which transcribes incoming audio messages. This feature also requires a language pack to be downloaded on the user's device and according to the company, all transcriptions are done on-device.

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