How to Use the Camera with Google Translate on iPhone or iPad

Last Updated: May 15, 2018 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to use Google Translate’s Word Lens with your iPhone or iPad’s camera to translate foreign signs and other printed matter.

Steps

1
Open Google Translate on your iPhone or iPad. Its icon, which looks like a folded sheet of blue and gray paper with a white “G” on the front, is typically found on the home screen.
2
Select the language of the text you want to translate. Your iPhone or iPad’s default language appears at the top-left corner of the app. If the sign or other printed matter is in a different language, follow these steps:
- Tap the language at the top-left corner of the screen.
- Tap
  next to the language. A pop-up will appear, giving you the option to download the language file.
- Tap DOWNLOAD.
- Tap the back button to return to the main Translate screen.
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3
Select a language to translate to. If the language at the top-right side of the screen is not the language you want to translate the other to, follow these steps:
- Tap the language at the top-right corner of the screen.
- Tap
  next to the language.
- Tap DOWNLOAD.
- Tap the back button to return to the main Translate screen.
4
Tap the camera icon. It’s the first icon beneath the “Enter text” box. This opens the camera viewfinder.
5
Align the text in the viewfinder. When you line up the printed sign in the camera’s viewfinder, Google Translate will automatically display the translation in the language that appears at the top-right corner of the screen.