To change the language in the Taobao app in an eligible market, open its language settings and select English. Availability depends on your region, so start with the in-app settings below. If you cannot find the language option, update Taobao and use screen or image translation if English remains missing.
The short version
- Start inside Taobao: Look for the language option within its country, region, language, and currency settings.
- Check eligibility: Updating the app can provide supported language features, but it does not guarantee access in your region.
- Translate your screen: Supported Android phones can translate displayed content with Circle to Search.
- Read images and pages: Screenshot and browser translation help you read Chinese content without changing Taobao’s app language.
| Option | Where to use it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Taobao language settings | Main app in eligible markets | Changes the app language |
| Taobao App Store page | Compatible Apple devices | Installs or updates Taobao |
| Taobao Google Play page | Compatible Android devices in supported markets | Installs or updates Taobao |
| Circle to Search | Supported Android phones | Translates displayed content |
| Apple Live Text | Supported iPhones and iPads | Translates screenshot text |
| Google Translate images | Compatible Android phones and tablets | Translates saved images through All Images |
| Google Translate images | Compatible iPhones and iPads | Translates saved images through Gallery |
| Tap to Translate | Android phones and tablets with Google Translate | Translates copyable text |
| Google Translate product page | Compatible Android and Apple devices | Provides official mobile app links |
| Chrome translation | Desktop Chrome | Translates accessible webpage text |
| Chrome translation | Android Chrome | Translates pages through More |
| Chrome translation | Chrome on iPhone and iPad | Translates pages with editable language choices |
| Edge translation | Desktop Microsoft Edge | Translates webpage text |
| Safari translation | Supported pages, languages, and regions on iPhone | Translates through Page Menu |
| Safari translation | Supported pages, languages, and regions on Mac | Translates through the Smart Search field |
Choose English inside Taobao
In the main Taobao app, open 我的淘宝 (Account), then tap 设置 (Settings) at the top right. Open the country, region, language, and currency settings, make sure 国家/地区 (Country/region) is set to your supported market, then tap 语言 (Language) and select English.
Taobao names Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Thailand, Canada, Cambodia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, and Mongolia among its eligible markets. Availability should not be assumed worldwide. If your menus do not match or English is missing, update the app before checking again.
Update Taobao when the language option is missing
An older installation may need an update before supported language features are available. On an Apple device, open the official Taobao App Store page in an available storefront and install or update the main app. The linked page uses the Singapore storefront, and storefront availability varies.
On a compatible Android device, use the official Taobao Google Play page to install or update Taobao where available. Open Taobao afterward and check its language settings again. Updating does not guarantee regional eligibility, so use a translation option below if you still cannot select English.
Translate the screen on a supported Android phone
On a supported Android phone, display the Taobao screen you want to read, then touch and hold the Home button or navigation handle. Tap Translate beside the search bar. This translates displayed content without changing Taobao’s language setting.
For translation while moving through screens, tap Scroll and translate. Circle to Search works on supported Android phones, including Pixel 6 and later and selected other models. Google says some apps may prevent screen access. If screen translation cannot read the content, try image translation with a saved screenshot.
Read a screenshot with Apple Live Text
On a supported iPhone or iPad, enable Live Text under Settings > General > Language & Region. Next, take a screenshot of Taobao and open the saved image in Photos. Live Text can translate recognizable text in screenshots, including text inside product pictures.
Tap the Live Text button, then tap Translate. If prompted, tap Continue, then select your destination language or tap Change Language. Language and regional restrictions apply, and the translation leaves Taobao’s interface unchanged.
Translate product images with Google Translate
For saved screenshots and product images, get Google Translate through the official mobile app links on the Google Translate product page. Save the Taobao screenshot or product image you want to read. This method works with compatible Android and Apple devices and translates image text without changing a Taobao preference.
On Android, open Google Translate and set From to Chinese or Detect language. Set To to English or your preferred language, then tap Camera > All Images. Select the saved image to translate its text.
On iPhone or iPad, open Google Translate and set From to Chinese or Detect language, then set To to English or your preferred language. Tap Camera > Gallery, then select your saved screenshot or product image. Use this image method when the text you need to read is inside a product picture.
Translate text you can copy on Android
For text Taobao allows you to copy, open Google Translate, then open Menu > Settings > Tap to Translate and tap Enable. On Android 10 and later, tap Paste. If the overlay permission prompt appears, tap Allow. On Pixel 6 and later, you can also turn on Show floating icon.
Return to Taobao, select the copyable text, and tap Copy. Tap the Google Translate floating icon and choose the destination language. This method needs copyable text, so use image translation for text inside pictures or content you cannot copy.
Translate Taobao webpages on your phone
To read Taobao content in another language through your browser, open the Taobao webpage and use the translation controls for your browser below. These controls apply to content loaded in the browser and leave the native app’s language unchanged.
In Chrome on Android, open the Taobao webpage and tap More > Translate. Select your destination language in the translation notification, using Settings > More languages when you need another choice. To set a default target language, open Chrome’s More > Settings > Languages > Advanced > Translate into this language.
In Chrome on iPhone or iPad, open the webpage and tap More > Translate. To adjust either language, open Settings in the translation panel. Tap Edit beside From or To and change the relevant choice.
In Safari on iPhone, open the Taobao webpage and tap the Page Menu button. Tap Translate to English when offered; the displayed destination language depends on your preferred language. Translation requires support for the language and region. If the option is missing, try translating a saved screenshot with Live Text or Google Translate.
Translate Taobao webpages on a computer
In desktop Chrome, open the Taobao webpage, select Translate beside the address bar, and choose English or another supported language. To keep a preferred destination, open More > Settings > Languages > Google Translate > Translate into this language. For automatic Chinese-page translation, use Automatically translate these languages > Add languages and select the applicable Chinese language.
In desktop Microsoft Edge, open the page and select the translation icon in the address bar. Choose your language under Translate to, then select Translate. This changes the displayed webpage text without changing your Taobao app settings.
In Safari on Mac, open the Taobao webpage and click Translate in the Smart Search field. Choose your destination language for a supported webpage, language, and region. If your desired supported language is missing, add it to macOS Language & Region preferences.
Desktop Chrome translates accessible webpage text, but it may leave text embedded in product pictures untranslated. For those details, save the product image and use Google Translate’s image translation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Apple software versions does the current Taobao app require?
Taobao’s Singapore App Store listing requires iOS 15.0 or later, iPadOS 15.0 or later, or visionOS 1.0 or later. Storefront availability varies.
Which Apple devices support Live Text screenshot translation?
Live Text supports iPhone XS/XR and later with iOS 15 or later, plus supported iPads with iPadOS 15.1 or later. Language and regional restrictions also apply.
Can Google Translate read Taobao from another device’s screen?
Yes, on Android, point Google Translate’s camera at Taobao displayed on the other device and tap the shutter button. On iPhone or iPad, you can also point its camera at Taobao on another screen to translate it.
Does Circle to Search continuously translate videos and GIFs?
No, Google excludes videos and GIFs from continuous translation. You can use Scroll and translate for supported screen content while moving through the app.
How do you restore the original Chinese webpage in Edge?
Reopen Edge’s translation panel and select Show original. This restores the original webpage language without changing Taobao’s app settings.
Can you access Google Translate without its mobile app?
Yes, Google’s product page also provides access to its web service. For the mobile screenshot and copied-text steps, use Google Translate on a compatible Android or Apple device as specified for each method.
