How to Download a Language for Offline Use in Google Translate for Android

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: February 26, 2018

To download languages for Google Translate to use offline, tap the ☰ button → tap "Offline translation" → tap the "Download" button next to a language you want to use offline.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:
Downloading Offline Languages

1
Open the Google Translate app. You'll find this in your list of all apps, labeled "Translate."
2
Tap the ☰ button. You'll find this in the upper-left corner.
3
Tap Offline translation.
4
Scroll down to find the language you want to download. Note that not all languages that Google Translate supports are available for offline use.
5
Tap the "Download" button next to a language. It looks like a down arrow pointing at a horizontal line.
6
Tap Download to confirm. You'll be shown the size of the offline translation files before the download starts.
- Your device will need to have an internet connection in order to download language files for later use offline.
7
Monitor the download. The language will be moved to the "Downloaded languages" section, and you'll see a progress circle.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:
Managing Offline Languages

1
Tap the ☰ button. You can see which languages you have downloaded and if there are any updates available for them.
2
Tap Offline translation.
3
Browse the Downloaded languages section. Languages you've downloaded will be at the top of the list.
4
Tap Update to update a downloaded language. This will make sure you have the latest version of the language for translating.
5
Tap Upgrade to download a higher-quality version. Sometimes an improved version of an offline language will become available. Tap Upgrade to install it.
6
Tap the "Delete" button to remove downloaded translation files. This button looks like a trashcan. Removing offline translation files that you don't need can help free up space on your device.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:
Translating While Offline

1
Open the Google Translate app.
2
Tap the language in the upper-left corner.
3
Tap the language you want to translate from. If you're offline, this will need to be one of the languages that is downloaded to your device. Downloaded languages have a checkmark next to them.
4
Tap the language in the upper-right corner.
5
Tap the language that you want to translate to. This will also need to be a language that is available offline. English is available offline by default.
6
Type or paste text to be translated.
7
Tap the microphone to speak and translate.
8
Tap the camera button to scan and translate written text.
9
Tap the squiggly line button to draw and translate characters.

Community Q&A

Question

Why is offline translate not available for my Samsung tablet?

Community Answer

If you have not previously downloaded the language you were trying to translate, then offline translation will not work. You have to download the language while online first if you want to use it offline.
Question

How can I download a language translator to my phone?

Phillip Graham

Community Answer

You can download the Google Translate app on the Play Store for Android, or the App Store on iPhone.