How to translate text in photos
Apple has introduced the iOS 15 developer beta and we have been working hard to bring all the highlights of the update to users. One of the latest features in iOS is new system-wide translation powers , and it allows users to interpret almost any text in the world's most popular languages. Previously, Apple's translation app could translate any dictated or typed text or web page text in the browser. Thanks to the iOS 15 update and its optical character recognition, you no longer need to type the text. Let's delve deeper into the translation feature of iOS 15.
iOS 15 improved it by using OCR, which allows users to select text available in images you have captured on your iPhone. It can also translate text in the viewfinder. This feature is quite similar to the Google's image translation feature.
How it works?
iOS 15's text translation feature works differently. It works differently than Google Translate. You need to take photos in the app when using Google Translate. You can take a photo containing text, open the Camera Roll, then tap twice on any text available on the image, and the text will be translated in the next window.
In
iOS 15
, macOS 15 and iPadOS 15, a new feature called “Live Text” has been introduced. It allows users to choose, translate and search text on any image. The Live Text feature not only works when capturing of a photo, but it can also be used with any photo available in the Photos app. You can select any image and share the text. Whenever an indicator appears in the lower right corner of screen, you can choose text available in the image.
If there is a street address or phone number available in an image, users can tap the text to search for a location or make a call. Even if there is a restaurant sign, users can search for that place in maps and get directions to get there.
Live text also helps to search for available words in a photo. You can search for a phrase or words, get the photo results and tap on it to go directly to that available photo in the library.
In addition, Apple has also added a search function to find scenes and objects. When you point to the camera or view a photo of art, nature, books, pets and monuments, your device displays all relevant information available with links to find out more.
Live text can recognize and translate seven languages, including English, French, Chinese, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. This feature is compatible with A12 Bionic processor and following chips found in iPhone XS and later.
How to use iOS 15's new system-wide text translation feature:
Method 1
The first way to translate text is to open your Camera app and point it at the text you want to translate.
Once you point your phone at the recognizable text, you will see an icon available in the corner of the viewfinder. You can tap on it to select text to translate, copy or cut.
Method 2
You can capture an image or even go to your camera roll and find the text of old images, photos or screenshots using the live translation feature. However, the only requirement is that there is a detectable rich text available.
How to translate text offline
You don't need to have an internet connection every time you want to use new or existing translation features. To download languages for offline translation, you can open the main setup app on the phone, swipe up to Translate, access download languages and download what you like.
So here is how you can translate online and offline texts to photos. Follow the steps mentioned above and you will be good to go.
If you're having trouble with your device, see our "
How
on how to solve some of these problems.