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Thursday December 12, 2024

WhatsApp's exciting new feature will enable users to translate messages

New feature in Meta's instant-messaging app enables users to translate messages without internet access

By Web Desk
December 12, 2024
A representational image shows the WhatsApp icon displayed on a phone screen. — Unsplash
A representational image shows the WhatsApp icon displayed on a phone screen. — Unsplash

Receiving WhatsApp messages or channel updates in a language you don't understand can be a bit stressful as it leaves users with no other choice but to use a translation tool to avoid missing out any important messages.

However, this frustration in Meta's popular instant-messaging app may soon go away as it is now developing an exciting new feature that will allow users to easily translate chat messages and channel update within the app.

Set to debut in a future update, the new feature has been designed in a way that improves communication on the app without violating any user's privacy.

According to WABetaInfo, the translations through the new feature will occur directly on the user's device, ensuring that no data is sent to third-party services or even WhatsApp's own servers.

This screenshot shows the upcoming WhatsApp feature. — WABetaInfo
This screenshot shows the upcoming WhatsApp feature. — WABetaInfo

Additionally, the feature is designed to work offline, allowing users to download language packs in advance. Once these packs are installed, translations can be processed locally, even when there is no active internet connection.

It is important to note that through these refinements, WhatsApp has emphasised that translations generated using local language packs should be regarded as indicative rather than fully accurate.

Since the translation is performed offline using pre-downloaded data, occasional errors may occur.

Although this feature is under development and will be available in a future update, it is currently accessible for beta testers in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.26.9 update, which is available on the Google Play Store.