To translate a picture on iPhone, open it in the Photos app, tap the Live Text button, then tap Translate. You can also point the Camera app at the text, use the Camera tab in Apple's Translate app, or open a photo from your library in the Google Translate app. All of these show the translation on your screen. If you need the picture itself in another language with its layout kept, use a tool that redraws the text, such as EditText.ai.
For reading a sign, a menu or a screenshot, the built-in tools are usually enough. As of October 2026, these steps come from Apple's iPhone User Guide for iOS 27, Apple Support and Google's help pages.
Translate a picture in Photos with Live Text
Live Text is Apple's built-in text recognition, so you can select, copy and translate the words in a picture. Apple's steps for the Photos app are:
- Open the picture in the Photos app.
- Tap the Live Text button in the lower-right corner. Apple's iPhone User Guide calls it the Detect Text button.
- Tap Translate. To translate only part of the text, touch and hold a word, drag the grab points, then tap Translate.
- If asked, tap Continue and choose a language, or tap Change Language.
As of October 2026, Apple lists Live Text for iPhone XS, iPhone XR and later with iOS 15 or later. It isn't available in all regions or languages. Apple's Feature Availability page has separate lists for Live Text and for Translate. Both include Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese and Russian. If you can't select words, go to Settings, tap General, tap Language & Region, and turn on Live Text.
Translate text with the Camera app
Live Text also works in the camera frame, so you can translate a sign or menu without taking a photo. Apple's steps are:
- Open Camera and position your iPhone so the text is inside the frame.
- When a yellow frame appears around the detected text, tap the Live Text button.
- Touch and hold the text, drag the grab points to select it, then tap Translate.
- Tap the button again to return to the camera.
If the yellow frame never appears, go to Settings, tap Camera, and check that Show Detected Text is on. On iPhones with Apple Intelligence, Visual Intelligence can also translate text.
Translate with Apple's Translate app
The Translate app has a Camera tab that translates text around you as you move your iPhone, and it can translate a photo from your library. Apple's guide says translation is available for supported languages, which Apple lists on its Feature Availability page. To translate a photo from your library:
- Open the Translate app and tap Camera.
- Tap the Photo Library button, then choose a photo that contains text.
- To change a language, tap it and choose a different one. On iOS 26 and earlier, Apple's guide has you choose the language right after you tap Camera.
- To share or save the translated image, tap the Share button and choose an option. Apple's iOS 26 guide names the save option Save Image.
For the live view, tap Camera and hold your iPhone so the text appears on the screen. Apple says the text is translated in real time. Tap the Take Picture button to freeze the image, zoom in on the overlaid translations, and tap one to copy, save or play it. To translate without a connection, download the languages first: go to Settings, tap Apps, tap Translate, then tap Languages.
Translate with the Google Translate app
Google's steps for iPhone are:
- Open the Google Translate app.
- At the bottom, choose the language to translate from, or tap Detect language, and the language you want the translation in.
- Under the text box, tap Camera.
- To use a picture you already have, tap Gallery. To translate live, point your camera at the text and watch the translation appear. Tap the Shutter button to pause.
- To translate part of the text, tap a word and drag the selection anchors, then choose an option such as Copy text or Listen.
As of October 2026, Google says its app translates text, handwriting, photos and speech in over 200 languages. For camera translation in all supported languages, it lists an iPhone 4S or later with iOS 11 or later. Google also says small, unclear or stylized text may not translate correctly. To use camera translations offline, tap Camera, tap the language picker, and download the languages you need.
What these tools don't do
Live Text shows the translation on screen. The Translate app lays it over the picture, and you can save that picture. Google Translate shows it in the camera view or a card. All three are quick and made for reading. None of these help pages say the original lettering, colors or layout are rebuilt in the new language.
That is fine for a menu on a trip. It isn't enough for a picture you will use: a poster for a new audience, a product photo for another country's store, a menu you made, or app screenshots for another store listing. Those need a new image with the words redrawn.
Translate the image itself with EditText.ai
EditText.ai publishes this guide. Its Translate tool detects the text, translates it, and redraws each line in the same place in a matching style, then gives you a new PNG. It runs in Safari, so there is nothing to install.
- Open Translate on EditText.ai and sign in with Google.
- Upload the picture from your photo library. As of October 2026, it accepts PNG, JPG or WebP files up to 14 MiB.
- Choose one of 35 languages. All detected text is translated by default. To keep a name or a line as written, switch off Translate all text and untick it.
- Choose Standard or High quality, then tap Translate image.
- Check the result at full size and download the PNG.
An edit uses credits, and a new account gets one free Standard edit with a watermark. Your picture is uploaded and saved in My images, private to your account. Results can vary with unusual lettering or detailed backgrounds, and translations can run longer than the original. Read every line, and have a fluent speaker check anything you publish. Only translate images you own or have permission to change.
Before and after: an English poster translated into French. The words and the date change; the cup, the hours and the addresses stay as they were.
To copy the original words instead, use Image to text. It reads the picture line by line in its own language and doesn't translate, so you can paste the words into a translator or a document. Reading uses no credits, but you need to sign in with Google.
Which method should you use?
| Method | Needs | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Text in Photos or Camera | iPhone XS, iPhone XR or later with iOS 15 or later | A saved photo, or a sign in front of you | Supported languages only; translation shown on screen |
| Apple's Translate app | Supported languages | The live camera view, or sharing a translated photo | Translation laid over the picture; made for reading |
| Google Translate app | iPhone 4S or later, iOS 11 or later (Google) | A language Apple doesn't list, or a second reading | Small or stylized text may be wrong; made for reading |
| EditText.ai Translate | Any browser | A poster, product photo, menu or screenshot you will publish | New PNG in 35 languages; upload required; uses credits; results vary |
| EditText.ai Image to text | Any browser | The original words as text | Doesn't translate |
Start with Live Text for a single photo or sign. Use the Translate app for the live view, or Google Translate if your language isn't on Apple's lists. Use EditText.ai to translate text in an image when the result has to be an image you will post, print or upload.
Frequently asked questions
Can an iPhone translate text in a picture without another app?
Yes. Live Text is built into iOS and can translate text in the Photos and Camera apps. Open the picture, tap the Live Text button, then tap Translate. As of October 2026, Apple lists iPhone XS, iPhone XR and later with iOS 15 or later.
Why don't I see Translate in Photos?
Live Text may be off, or your language may not be supported. Go to Settings, tap General, tap Language & Region, and turn on Live Text. If Translate isn't in the menu after you select text, tap the Show More Items button. Apple's Feature Availability page lists the supported languages.
How do I save a translated picture on iPhone?
In Apple's Translate app, tap Camera, tap the Photo Library button, choose the photo, tap the Share button, and choose an option. Apple's iOS 26 guide names the save option Save Image. You get the photo with the translation laid over it. For a new image with the words redrawn, use EditText.ai.
Can I translate a picture and keep the same design?
Not with these built-in tools. They show or save the translation over the picture, and none of the help pages say the original lettering or layout is rebuilt. A tool that redraws the text can. EditText.ai's Translate writes each translated line where the original was, in a matching style. Check the result, because it varies with the lettering.