Whether you’re traveling, discovering new neighborhoods or cuisines, or simply want to pick up another tongue, Live Translate* means that you won’t need to fear the barrier of a foreign language again.
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This is how Samsung Galaxy S26’s Live Translate unlocks dozens of languages at your fingertips
With Galaxy AI-powered Live Translate, you’ll never be at a loss for words.
Photo-Illustration: Binlin Cao
Photo-Illustration: Binlin Cao
Integrated in the latest Samsung Galaxy S26 phones, Live Translate is a real-time translation service that supports over 20 languages (including regional variations) and delivers essential information at the snap of a button. If you need to find out what’s written on a street sign, restaurant menu, or instruction manual, simply point the camera at it and the Galaxy S26 will generate an overlay, recognising and translating the text through the screen and anchored at its original location. It’s like having a field guide in your hand.
But the advances behind Live Translate aren’t just limited to visual elements. For example, in a phone or video call, the Live Translate option will speak to you effortlessly via a button that’s easily accessible on the screen. And if you’re having in-person conversation in real-time, the new Interpreter* can act as a liaison that listens and displays what’s being said in your chosen language.
It’s a first for a Samsung device, and it’s all possible through the AI-driven features on the latest Galaxy S26 operating system. Learn how to activate Live Translate for any interpretive situation below.
How to activate Live Translate
The first step to using Live Translate is downloading the right language packs that fit your travels and
- Select Settings, then General Management.
- Select the “Language Pack” item.
- Download the desired language pack from the list of supported languages.
If you know where you’re traveling, it’s helpful to download these language packs before taking off. Additionally, downloading these language packs on Wi-Fi is recommended, since they might be quite large.
Use your camera to translate text in real time
Live Translate works with Optical Character Recognition (OCR): It accurately detects and parses text in different languages, even if the text is seen in various fonts or among complex backgrounds.
To use Live Translate through your phone’s camera, simply point it to the text you want translated, and a “T” button will appear in the lower right corner. Select Real-time Translation and the translated text will appear overlaid through your phone’s screen. Overlay Translation determines the location and content of text within images you’ve taken or where your camera is pointed. This means that the translated text will be fixed in its original location, no matter how you move your phone. If you’re navigating by street names, or seeing what’s for sale in a storefront, this can provide much-needed situational context.
Can Live Translate support real-time calls?
Live Translate provides real-time and two-way voice and text translation during calls, with support for video calls. During a call, tap Call Assist and then Live Translate to start translating in real time. The person on the other end of the line will get a notification that their voice is being translated.
During the call, you can customise the voice’s speed and pitch to get a better understanding of what’s being said, and you can even choose to mute the original speaker’s voice to hear only the translation. A real-time translation will appear on your screen, and you’ll also be able to hear the translation throughout the conversation.
How to use the Interpreter app
One of the most powerful new translation tools on the Galaxy S26 is the Interpreter app, which uses Galaxy AI to listen to real-time conversations and display texts for both you and the person you’re speaking to. Here’s how to access it:
- Open the Quick setting panel and select the Interpreter app.
- The top screen will show what you’re speaking, and the bottom will show your conversational partner’s language.
- Select what languages that you’ll both be speaking, both by the microphone icons. Tap Add languages if you require more options.
- Allow access to the microphone, and select the Change view mode icon to flip the top half of the screen to face the other speaker. Then, select the Microphone icon facing you and speak.
The app will audibly translate what you say as well as display a transcription in your original language and a written translation in your conversation partner’s language.
Is Live Translate available in other apps?
Live Translate is woven into the latest Samsung Galaxy S26, so even if you’re using other apps, you’ll be able to access AI-driven translation in your most commonly-used apps. Here’s how:
- Select Settings, then Galaxy AI.
- Select Call assist, then swipe to Live translate in other apps.
- Tap on this to activate, then select the apps you want to use Live Translate with.
You can also add a shortcut to Live Transcribe by tapping the Live Transcribe shortcut while in Settings.
Live Translate takes the guesswork out of foreign travel, phone calls, and even business and personal meetings. Not only does it open up new worlds of communication, but it also brings dozens of languages — with more language support to come — right to your fingertips.
* Samsung account login is required. Certain languages may require language pack download. Service availability may vary by language. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. Available in 20 languages from launch.