3 Quick Ways to Use Google Translate Camera Scan

PDF download Download Article
Use your phone camera to scan and translate any words
PDF download Download Article

Are you in a foreign country and don't know the language well? If you have the Google Translate app, you can use it to scan and translate any text you see with your phone's camera. You can also take a picture and translate the text it contains into any language. This wikiHow will teach you how to use your camera to scan with Google Translate on an Android, iPhone, iPad, or computer.

Quick Steps

  1. Open the Google Translate app.
  2. Select the input language.
  3. Select the output language.
  4. Tap the Camera icon.
  5. Point your camera at the text to translate it.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using an Android

PDF download Download Article
  1. It’s a blue and white icon that you can find on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching.
    • If you don’t have Google Translate, you can download it for free from the Google Play Store .
  2. This is the first language box at the bottom of the screen. [1]
    • A list of languages will appear in a drop-down menu.
    Advertisement
  3. This indicates what the original language is.
    • If you want the app to automatically detect the original language, tap Detect Language , which is helpful when you don't know the origin language.
  4. This is the second language box at the bottom of the screen. A list of languages will appear in a drop-down menu.
  5. If the language isn’t yet on your phone or tablet, you’ll need to download it first.
  6. This activates the camera so you can scan and translate text live.
    • If you want to translate text from an image in your gallery, tap All Images instead, and then select the image. Keep in mind that the text on the image must be clear.
  7. Make sure the text is clear and legible. Google Translate will begin to translate directly on the screen.
    • If you selected All Images , you should see your translation after a moment.
    • If you want to take a picture of the translation, tap the circular shutter button.
    8. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using an iPhone or iPad

PDF download Download Article
  1. It’s a blue and white icon that you can find on one of your Home screens.
    • If you don’t have Google Translate, you can download it for free from the App Store.
  2. This is the first language box at the bottom of the screen.
    • A list of languages will appear in a drop-down menu.
  3. This indicates what the original language is.
    • If you want the app to automatically detect the original language, tap Detect Language , which is helpful when you don't know the origin language.
  4. This is the second language box at the bottom of the screen. A list of languages will appear in a drop-down menu.
  5. If the language isn’t yet on your phone or tablet, you’ll need to download it first.
  6. This is the camera icon at the bottom corner of the screen.
    • If you want to translate text from an image in your Camera Roll, tap the image icon on the left of the shutter, and then select the image. Make sure the text is clear in the image.
  7. Make sure the text is clear and legible. Google Translate will begin to translate directly on the screen.
    • If you selected an image, you should see your translation after a moment.
    • If you want to take a picture of the translation, tap the circular shutter button.
    8. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using a Computer

PDF download Download Article
  1. Go to the Google Translate website . You can use any browser on your PC, Mac, or Chromebook to translate text from a photo.
    • If you want to translate the text in a picture, make sure you have the picture on your computer. If needed, you can transfer photos to your computer using a USB cable, Bluetooth, wirelessly, and more.
  2. This is the tab at the top, between Text and Documents .
    • If you want to translate a PDF document, you can select Documents instead. Make sure the text is clear.
  3. Click Browse your files to open your computer's file explorer to locate and select your file.
    • Alternatively, drag and drop the image file into the upload section.
  4. The input language is the original text language. If you're unsure, select Detect language instead. The output language is the language you want to translate to.
    • The file will be uploaded, and the image will be translated.
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      5 Simple Steps to Play the Zerg Rush Game on Google
      Easy Steps to Clear Your Google Search History on Any Device
      How to
      Keep Track of iOS App Installs from Google Ads
      Setting Up Google Voice on a Computer, iPhone, or Android
      2 Ways to Text with Google Voice on Mobile and Computer
      How to
      Record a Call on Google Voice
      How to
      Make International Calls from Google Voice
      How to
      Listen to Google Voicemail
      2 Easy Ways to Save Google Translate Voice to Your Computer
      How to
      Apply a Formula to an Entire Column on Google Sheets on PC or Mac
      How to
      Organize Photos in Google Photos: Quick Guide to Albums
      Easy Ways to Find Backed Up Photos on Google: 3 Methods
      How to
      Download an Image from Google Photos to Your Computer
      How to
      Disable Web & App Activity for Your Google Account
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/translate/answer/6142483?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Android&oco=0

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 77,541 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement