A super useful option is Chrome's ability to automatically translate foreign websites so that the language barrier doesn't stop you from browsing the web. In this article, we show you how to translate web pages with the Google Chrome browser on your desktop and on your mobile device.
How to easily translate a page in Chrome on the desktop
The translation function is built into the Chrome browser, so you don't need to install any extensions or enable any flags.
- On your computer, open the Chrome browser and go to a web page in a foreign language.
- In the search bar on the right you will notice a small Google Translate icon. Tap it and choose the target language. (This is your system's default language.)
- Alternatively, click the three-dot menu on the right and select another language to translate the page.
- You should now be able to read the contents of the web page in a language you know.
How to Easily Translate Any Website in Chrome for Mobile
The translation feature is available in Chrome for both Android and iOS, and usage is the same for both. This option is on by default, so you won't have to do anything in particular to enable it.
Just go to a webpage in a foreign language and Chrome will immediately ask you if you want to translate it. The browser will recognize the source language and translate it into the target language, which is usually the one set as the phone's default system language. If your phone is set in English. this is what other languages will be translated into.
- Open Google Chrome on your mobile device and go to a web page showing a foreign language.
- A translation bar will appear at the bottom of the screen showing the source and target languages
- Tap the target language (in this case Spanish) to start the translation.
- The text on the website should now be in Spanish.
Change target language in Android
Follow the instructions below to change the default system language in Android.
- Open Settings on your device.
- Scroll down until you find the “System” option down and tap on it
- Select "Language and input".
- Tap "Languages (country / region)."
- Select "Add a language".
- Choose the new language you want to use as the default system language. You will now receive suggestions for translation into that particular language.
Change target language in iOS
Follow the instructions below to change the default system language in iOS.
- Open Settings on your device.
- Scroll down and tap "General".
- Select "Language and region".
- Tap "Other Languages ..." under "iPhone Language".
- Choose the new language you want to use as the default system language. The translations will now be displayed in that language.
Note that now your original language and new target language will be shown as preferred languages, with the option still present to add another language.
How to change the target language with ease
Alternatively, you may not want to change the default system language. If you only need a single translation, there is no point in making that change. Fortunately, you can switch to a new target language very easily.
- In the translation bar at the bottom of the webpage, tap the three-dot icon on the right.
- In the menu that appears, select "Other languages".
- Select your preferred target language.
- Tap the selection again to translate the website into the new language.
- From the same menu, you can choose to disable the option to translate pages written in a certain source language. Alternatively, you can make sure Chrome always translates pages in that language.
How to enable translation for multiple languages
It is also possible to switch between the target languages by accessing the browser settings.
- In Chrome, tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner.
- Select "Settings".
- Scroll down and tap the "Languages" option.
- Tap "Add language" to add more.
- After adding a new language, tap the three dots to disable / enable the “Translation offer” option.
- Note that you need to move the language in which you want your translations to the top of the list for Chrome to suggest translations in this language.
- Also, if you don't want Google Chrome to show you the translation card every time you visit a page in a foreign language, you can disable it from here. Just turn off the “Offer to translate pages to other languages” option at the bottom of the screen.
