How to translate in-person conversations with AirPods

When someone nearby speaks to you in a different language, Live Translation with AirPods lets you hear what they’re saying in your preferred language. The translated dialogue also appears on your iPhone.

Before you start, you need both languages downloaded on your iPhone: the one the other person is speaking and the one you want to translate it to.

You can reply in your preferred language, too. And when both people are wearing supported AirPods, each of you hears a translation of the conversation in the language of your choice.

Note: Live Translation with AirPods is supported on AirPods 4 (ANC), AirPods 5, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, or AirPods Max 2 paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPhone 16 models or later. Apple Intelligence isn’t available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.* Your iPhone must have the latest version of iOS, and AirPods must have the latest firmware.

Download languages you want to use with Live Translation

To use Live Translation, you need to download the language the other person is speaking and the language you want to translate it to. For example, if you want to translate a conversation from Spanish to English, you should download both Spanish and English. After the languages are downloaded, all processing takes place on your iPhone, where your conversation data remains private, according to Apple.

1. Wear your AirPods, and make sure they’re connected to your device.
2. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
3. Tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen.
4. Below Translation, tap Languages (if you don’t see that option, first tap Live Translation [Beta]). Then tap the language you want to download.
5. The icon to the right of the language shows the download progress.

To delete a downloaded language, swipe left, then tap the Delete button.

Set up and start Live Translation

1. Wear your AirPods, and make sure they’re connected to your device.
2. Start the Translate app on your iPhone.
3. Tap Live at the bottom of the screen. Choose your languages:
   • Their Language: The language the other person is speaking.
   • Your Language: The language you prefer to hear in your AirPods.
4. To start Live Translation, do one of the following:
   • Use your AirPods: Press and hold the stem on both AirPods at the same time. If you have AirPods Max 2, press and hold the listening mode button.
   • Use Siri: Ask Siri something like, “Hey Siri, start Live Translation.”
   • Use the Translate app: Go to the Translate app on your iPhone and tap Live at the bottom. Then tap Start Translation.
   • Use Control Center on your iPhone: Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center and tap Translate.
   • Use the Action button on your iPhone: You can change the Action button to start Live Translation.

   When you start Live Translation, Adaptive Audio is turned on (if it’s not already on).

Use Live Translation with AirPods

As someone speaks, your AirPods can translate for you. When you reply in your preferred language, the Translate app can display the translation or play the translated audio through your iPhone speaker.

Each participant hears a translation of the conversation in their chosen language when both people wear supported AirPods.

Note: Both people need the latest firmware on supported AirPods, an iPhone 15 Pro or later with iOS 26 or later. Features may vary by country or region.

1. Set up and start Live Translation.

   If you’re in a noisy environment, you can use the microphone on your iPhone to improve the translation input quality.

2. Do any of the following:
   • Listen to a person speak: Your AirPods automatically translate what the person says into your preferred language.

     You can also view a transcript of what they said in the Live tab of the Translate app on your iPhone.

   • Respond to a person: Speak your response. Then use the Live tab in the Translate app on your iPhone to show the person you’re speaking with a transcript, or tap the Play button to play a translation on your iPhone speaker.

     If the person you’re speaking with has supported AirPods and has set up and started Live Translation, they can also listen to your response using their AirPods.

3. To stop Live Translation, tap the Delete button.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.