Apple Announces Live Translation for Messages, FaceTime, and Phone Apps

[MacRumors]

Apple at WWDC today unveiled Live Translation, a new feature that breaks down language barriers across its core communication apps. The capability works seamlessly within Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, powered by Apple-built models running entirely on-device to preserve privacy.

In Messages, Live Translation automatically translates text as users type, delivering messages in the recipient's preferred language. Responses are instantly translated back, making international conversations effortless.

FaceTime calls gain live caption translation, allowing users to follow along with translated text while still hearing the original speaker's voice. Phone calls take it further with spoken translation throughout the conversation.

The on-device processing ensures personal conversations remain private, with no data sent to external servers. Apple demonstrated the feature with real-time travel planning scenarios, showing how users can coordinate with friends abroad without language constraints.

Live Translation represents Apple's latest push into AI-powered communication tools, following the company's broader Apple Intelligence initiative announced at last year's WWDC.

Article Link: Apple Announces Live Translation for Messages, FaceTime, and Phone Apps

 

[Jay Tee]

It's criminal iPhone 15, 15 Plus aren't getting these.

 

[Pudlo]

so now we can combine two emojis? amazing...100% worth waiting! appple you are impossible!😍 My life without combined emojis was so empty and pointless burt now I feel so much better and will never go back to android 🤖

 

[Populus]

Look! The same keyboard, right?

Maybe it is because the background is white… I really hope it looks “glassier” than that pure white.

 

[SMH4KIDIOT]

I don't see any updates on RCS to the latest version. Granted it was just a footnote at last years WWDC too.

 

[michaeljk]

This is by far the most appealing feature of iOS 26. I am married to a non-English speaker (she speaks English okay, but has difficulty reading it on the fly) so if this works as promised (big if), that would be a game changer for her and us.

 

[page3]

Will it be able to translate American in to English?

 

[svish]

Useful feature. But hopefully more languages will be supported in the near future.

 

[Jay-Jacob]

I wonder if able to translate spoken English into English?? For Deaf accessibility? I bet it won't though.

 

[cnnyy20p]

Please add more languages.

 

[xaanaax]

How do you even start texting someone that speaks in a language you don’t know?

 

[Frantisekj]

How do you even start texting someone that speaks in a language you don’t know?

Usually most of people understand Hi, hello or hola 😁

 

[GlassFingers]

This is the number one feature I’m excited about… as an American living in Europe, language translation is an every day thing.

 

[normal]

What translation app is it using in the background? Will be reliant on Apple's poor efforts or can we select a different app?

 

[macconservative]

So with the release of the API does that mean that Whatsapp will be able to translate messages realtime like the android already does?