How To Use Live Translation On Your Airpods - Not Just The Newest Ones

2 months ago

How to usage Live Translation connected your AirPods

\Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source connected Google.

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

Live Translation needs iPhone 15 Pro aliases newer pinch iOS 26
Works connected AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4, and Pro 3 pinch ANC
English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish supported.

My woman and I typically recreation to different state erstwhile aliases doubly a year. This past year, we visited Paris. Next year, we scheme to sojourn Italy aliases Amsterdam. Though galore group successful different countries speak English, we do tally into connection barriers successful definite situations. That's wherever we could usage a back-and-forth translator. And that's what Apple now offers done its Live Translation feature.

Introduced pinch iOS 26, nan caller Live Translation tin construe different person's words into your ain connection and tube them done your AirPods. If nan different personification besides has nan correct AirPods and a compatible iPhone, you tin some transportation connected a speech hands-free. If not, your ain words will look connected your iPhone and beryllium translated into nan different connection for nan different personification to spot and hear.

Also: The 2 biggest AI features that you should effort connected your iPhone 17 and AirPods ASAP

For now, Live Translation supports only English (UK and US), French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. Later successful nan year, Apple will adhd support for Chinese (Mandarin, Simplified, and Traditional), Japanese, Korean, and Italian.

How to do unrecorded translations pinch AirPods

What you'll need: First, you request a compatible iPhone -- 1 that supports Apple Intelligence since Live Translation is an AI-based skill. That intends an iPhone 15 Pro aliases Pro Max, immoderate iPhone 16, aliases immoderate iPhone 17.

Second, your iPhone requires iOS 26 aliases higher. If you haven't already upgraded, caput to Settings, prime General, and past pat Software Update. Select iOS 26, and past pat nan Update now button.

Also: AirPods Pro 3 fittingness characteristic surprises triathlete tester - here's what he found

Third, you'll request nan correct AirPods. Though Apple whitethorn person given nan belief that nan caller AirPods Pro 3 are required, you tin besides usage Live Translation pinch nan AirPods Pro 2, and nan AirPods 4 pinch Active Noise Cancellation.

For our purposes, I'll besides presume you've already paired your AirPods pinch your iPhone. If not, here's a quick guide that should get you started. With each nan due ingredients, really do you group up and usage Live Translation? Let's springiness it a spin.

Since Live Translation is an AI-powered feature, Apple Intelligence needs to beryllium enabled. To check, spell to Settings, prime Apple Intelligence & Siri, and past move connected nan move for Apple Intelligence if it's not already on.

Next, download nan languages you want to usage offline. For this, spot nan AirPods successful your ears and link them to your iPhone. Go to Settings and pat nan sanction of your AirPods, which should beryllium adjacent nan apical of nan screen.

Also: This caller AirPods Pro characteristic makes maine mobility why I still deterioration an Apple Watch

Swipe down nan AirPods settings surface and pat nan mounting for Languages. Any languages already downloaded are listed astatine nan top. Tap nan down arrow for immoderate different languages that you wish to usage offline.

Now let's opportunity you're astir to person a speech pinch personification speaking 1 of nan supported languages. You person your AirPods successful your ears and you want to usage Live Translation. Apple offers a big of ways to activate it, truthful you tin usage immoderate of nan pursuing methods:

Also: AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2: What to cognize earlier rushing to upgrade

Open nan Apple Translate app connected your telephone and pat nan Live icon astatine nan bottom. Make judge nan languages are group correctly, and past pat Start Translation.

Press and clasp nan stems connected some AirPods astatine nan aforesaid time.

Say: "Siri, commencement Live Translation."

Add nan Translation power to Control Center. Swipe from nan apical correct of your surface to motorboat Control Center, and past pat Translate.

Launch nan Translation power from Control Center

Set up nan Action fastener connected an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, immoderate iPhone 16, aliases immoderate iPhone 17 to trigger Live Translation. Then, property nan Action fastener to move connected Live Translation erstwhile you request it.

Press nan Action fastener to move connected Live Translation

As nan different personification speaks successful their language, you'll commencement to perceive their words translated into your language.

Also: Intrigued by Live Translation? You whitethorn not person to bargain caller AirPods to entree it

After nan translator is over, pat nan introduction for Live Translation connected your telephone and you'll spot nan original and translated words. You tin past respond by speaking successful your autochthonal language. Your words look successful your connection and nan different language. Assuming nan different personification isn't wearing compatible AirPods, you'll past request to pat nan Play fastener adjacent to your words to play them successful nan different language.

If nan different personification has nan correct iPhone and AirPods, you tin behaviour your speech without needing to perceive aliases spot nan translator connected an iPhone. For this, make judge you're some wearing your AirPods. Either personification tin trigger Live Translation. One personification starts speaking, and nan translated matter should beryllium heard successful nan AirPods of nan different person. You tin some past transportation connected a speech by speaking successful your connection and proceeding each other's words translated into your connection done your respective AirPods.

Also: These $15 accessories turned my AirPods into my perfect workout headphones

You tin besides look astatine Live Translation connected your iPhone to spot nan original and translated words.

As you usage Live Translation, support successful mind that nan characteristic is AI-based and truthful prone to nan aforesaid problems arsenic immoderate AI. You whitethorn find that definite translated words aliases sentences aren't wholly accurate. The translated words besides lag down nan original words, particularly if nan different personification is speaking excessively quickly. In that case, you whitethorn request to inquire them to slow down.

Also: Best AirPods 2025: I've tested each brace of Apple headphones and earbuds

Despite nan imaginable pitfalls, hopefully Live Translation will astatine slightest seizure nan gist of a speech truthful that you and nan different personification tin understand each other.