Google Translate Camera turns signs, menus, labels, and screenshots into translated text without making you type every word. The trick is knowing which button to use now, because older labels have disappeared from the current app. Here is the current way to translate live camera text, saved photos, and uploaded images on Android, iPhone, iPad, and a computer.
Start With the Current Camera Controls
The most common cause of confusing Google Translate Camera instructions is old app wording.
Skip paths that tell you to use Instant, Scan, Import, or Word Lens. Current Google Translate camera paths use Camera, Shutter Button, All Images on Android, and Gallery on iPhone and iPad.
On Android, open the Google Translate page in Google Play and tap Install. Camera translation in all supported languages requires an auto-focus camera and a dual-core CPU with ARMv7.
On iPhone or iPad, open the Google Translate page in the App Store and tap Get. Instant camera translation and photo translation are included, with feature support varying by language.
Translate Live Text on Android
This fixes text you are pointing your Android phone or tablet camera at.
Open the Translate app.
Set From to the language on the text, or tap Detect language.
Set To to the language you want.
On the app home screen, tap Camera.
Point your camera at the text you want to translate.
Tap the Shutter Button.
Tap Shutter to freeze the translated text in the camera view.
Open an Android Photo in Translate
Use this when the text is already saved in an image on your Android phone or tablet. Google Translate handles it from the same camera area, so you do not need to retype from the photo.
Open Translate.
Set From to a language or tap Detect language.
Set To to your translation language.
Tap Camera.
Tap All Images.
Choose the image that contains the text.
Use Camera Translation on iPhone or iPad
On iPhone or iPad, open Translate and choose the languages at the bottom. Set From to the language on the text or tap Detect language, then set To to the language you want.
Under the text box, tap Camera. Point your camera at the text, and the translation appears instantly.
To pause the view, tap the Shutter button. To translate a saved image, tap Gallery and choose the image.
Select Only the Words You Need
Start from a translated image in Translate.
On Android, tap the Shutter Button.
Tap Expand.
Turn on Show original text when you want the source text visible.
Tap any word.
Drag the selection anchors around the exact words you want.
On iPhone or iPad, tap the Shutter button.
Tap Translate options.
Turn on Show original text.
Tap a word.
Drag the selection anchors around the text you want.
On Android, choose Copy text, Listen, Send to Translate Home, or Search from the bottom carousel after selecting translated image text.
For dense images, select a smaller phrase before using Copy text or Search.
Download Languages for Offline Camera Translation
Use this when you need camera translation with downloaded languages. Offline camera translation depends on the languages available for download.
On Android, open Translate.
Tap Camera.
Tap the Language picker.
Download the language you want the translation in.
On iPhone or iPad, open Translate.
Tap Camera.
Tap the language picker.
Download the languages you want to translate to and from.
Switch to Google Lens
This fixes cases where another Google camera or photo surface is faster than opening the Translate app.
On Android, open the Google app.
Tap Google Lens in the search bar or widget.
Under Search with your camera, tap Translate.
Point your camera at the words and take a photo, or choose one under Screenshots or All images.
Choose the input and output languages in the language dropdown.
On Android, open the standalone Google Lens app for the same Lens translate surface.
Use the camera or choose a photo.
On iPhone or iPad, open the Google app.
Tap Google Lens in the search bar.
Under Search with your camera, tap Translate.
Take a photo of the words you want translated, or upload from Screenshots or All images.
Choose the input and output languages in the language dropdown.
In Google Photos, select a photo.
Tap More.
Tap Google Lens.
Use Lens actions to translate text in the photo into Google Translate languages.
On Android devices with Camera from Google, open the camera app.
Swipe right when Translate is not visible at the bottom.
Tap Translate.
Point your camera at words you do not understand.
Tap Capture.
On iPhone and iPad, Google Lens works with the Google app or Google Photos, not the iOS Camera app or Google Assistant.
Upload an Image on a Computer
Go to Google Translate in your browser.
At the top, select Images.
Set From to a language or Detect language.
Set To to the language you want.
Click Browse your computer.
Choose the image.
Google Translate on a computer translates an uploaded image, not a live camera view.
Fix Camera Access on Managed Phones
When Google Translate, Google Lens, or Camera from Google cannot open the camera, check the system camera permission for the app.
On Android, go to Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager > Camera, tap Translate, Google, Lens, or Camera, and choose the camera permission setting. If the whole device camera is blocked, go to Settings > Security & privacy > Privacy > Privacy controls and turn Camera access on.
On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and turn camera access on for Google Translate or Google. The app appears there after it has requested camera access.
For work or school Android devices, the Managed Google Play store installs apps and removes allowed apps, while admin-managed policies remotely install apps or stop uninstalling certain apps. On iPhone, Settings > General > VPN & Device Management shows profiles under Mobile Device Management.
If camera access is allowed and this method still fails, translate a saved image in Google Translate, use Google Lens, or upload the image with Images in Google Translate on a computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Google Translate Camera work on both Android and iPhone?
Yes. Google Translate supports instant camera translation and photo translation on Android, iPhone, and iPad. Feature support varies by language.
Can Google Translate Camera work offline?
Yes, after you download supported languages from the camera language picker. Offline camera translation depends on downloaded language availability.
Why do older instructions mention Instant, Scan, Import, or Word Lens?
Those are older Google Translate camera paths. Current Google Translate uses Camera, Shutter Button, All Images on Android, Gallery on iPhone and iPad, and Translate in Google Lens.
Can I translate text already on my Android screen without using the camera?
On select Android phone models, Circle to Search translates selected screen text or the entire screen. Start Circle to Search, select the text, and tap Translate.