How to translate signs and menus with your iPhone or Android camera

You’re traveling in another country and come across a restaurant menu, train station sign or parking notice written in a language you don’t understand. Instead of typing unfamiliar words into a translator, you can point your phone’s camera at the text and see a translation right on your screen.

Both iPhone and Android phones have camera translation features that can recognize printed words and translate them into your preferred language. Whether you’re ordering food, navigating a train station or trying to understand instructions, this handy phone feature can make traveling much easier.

Here’s how to use your phone’s camera to translate text without typing a single word.

How to translate signs with your iPhone camera (iOS 27 or later)

Apple’s built-in Translate app lets you use your camera to translate printed text in real time. You can also translate text directly from the Camera app on supported iPhones.

• Open the Translate app on your iPhone.
• Tap Camera.
• Point your camera at a sign, menu or other printed text.
• Your iPhone will display the translated text over the original words as you move the camera.
• Tap the Take Picture button to freeze the image so you can read the translation more easily.
• Tap a language to change the translation languages if needed.
• Zoom in to get a closer look at the translated words.
• Tap an overlaid translation to see options to copy, save or hear the translation spoken aloud.

Bonus tip: You can also open your iPhone’s regular Camera app, point it at printed text and tap the Live Text icon when it appears. Touch and hold the text, select the words you want and tap Translate to see what they mean.

How to translate signs with your Samsung Galaxy camera

Samsung Galaxy phones can use Google Lens to translate printed text through the camera. Google Lens is available through the Google app and Google Photos on supported Galaxy devices.

• Open the Google app on your Samsung Galaxy.
• Tap the Google Lens camera icon in the search bar.
• Select Translate from the available options.
• Point your camera at the sign, menu or printed text you want to understand.
• Google Lens will recognize the text and display a translation on your screen.
• Select your preferred translation language if it isn’t already set to English.
• Hold your phone steady so the words remain clear and readable.
• Tap the shutter button to capture the text if you’d like more time to examine the translation.

Bonus tip: If you’ve already taken a photo of a sign or menu, open Google Photos, select the image, tap the three dots (More) and choose Google Lens. Then select Translate to translate the text without taking another picture. The location of Google Lens may vary slightly by app version.

Another Samsung option: Bixby Vision

Some Samsung Galaxy phones also offer camera translation through Bixby Vision.

• Open the Camera app.
• Tap More.
• Select Bixby Vision (the eye icon), if available.
• Tap Translate.
• Select the language you want the text translated into.
• Point your camera at the text to see the translation.

Note: Bixby Vision requires a network connection, and its availability varies by device and software version. On some newer Galaxy models, text recognition and translation tools appear directly in the Camera or Gallery app instead.

How to translate signs with your Google Pixel camera

Google Pixel phones work with Google Lens, making it easy to translate foreign-language text using your camera.

• Open the Google app on your Pixel.
• Tap the Google Lens icon in the search bar.
• Select Translate.
• Point your Pixel’s camera at a menu, street sign, product label or other printed text.
• Google Lens will identify the text and display a translation over the original words.
• Choose the language you want the text translated into if needed.
• Hold your phone steady to improve text recognition.
• Tap the shutter button to capture the image if you’d like more time to read or review the translation.

Bonus tip: You can also translate text from photos you’ve already taken. Open Google Photos, select an image, tap the three dots (More) and choose Google Lens. Then tap Translate.

Extra travel tip: Prepare for translations without internet

If you’re traveling internationally, don’t assume you’ll always have Wi-Fi or cellular service. Some translation features work offline when you’ve downloaded the necessary languages ahead of time.

On iPhone (iOS 27 or later)

• Open Settings.
• Scroll down and tap Apps.
• Select Translate.
• Tap Languages.
• Tap the download icon next to the languages you want to save.
• Download both your preferred language and the language spoken at your destination, if supported.
• Return to Settings > Apps > Translate.
• Under On-Device Translation, select Always if you want translations processed on your iPhone using downloaded languages.

Bonus tip: Apple’s Automatic setting uses downloaded languages on your device when available, but may use Apple’s servers when needed. Choosing Always keeps translations on your iPhone, although offline results may be less accurate for some languages.

On Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel

For offline camera translation on Android, use the Google Translate app rather than relying on Google Lens.

• Open the Google Translate app. If you don’t have it, download it from the Google Play Store.
• Tap Camera.
• Tap the language selector.
• Find the language you’ll need during your trip.
• Tap the download icon next to that language, if available.
• Confirm the download when prompted.
• Repeat for any additional supported languages you’ll need.
• Once the language downloads finish, point your camera at printed text to translate it without an internet connection.

Bonus tip: Google Translate can also translate text from photos you’ve already taken. Open the app, tap Camera and select All images to choose an existing photo.

Important: Offline camera translation isn’t supported for every language or feature. Test your translation setup in airplane mode before leaving home to make sure it works without an internet connection.

Important things to know

Camera translation can be incredibly helpful, but it isn’t always perfect. Unusual fonts, handwriting, poor lighting and complicated sentences can lead to inaccurate translations.

Be especially careful when translating medical instructions, allergy information, legal documents, traffic signs or emergency notices. If the information affects your health or safety, confirm the translation with a reliable source or qualified person rather than relying on your phone alone.

Also, camera translation is designed primarily for visible text. It won’t translate spoken train announcements simply by pointing your camera at a speaker. For conversations or announcements, use a supported voice translation feature instead.

Know someone who could use more tips? Share this free class with someone who wants simple, nontechnical help using AI to prepare for health-care appointments.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Traveling somewhere you don’t speak the language doesn’t have to mean guessing what every sign or menu says. With Apple Translate on iPhone or Google Lens on Android, you can point your phone’s camera at unfamiliar words and see a translation without typing anything. It’s a handy trick for ordering food, finding your way around a new city or understanding everyday instructions while traveling.

Before your next trip, take a minute to try the camera translation feature and download any supported languages you might need offline. I also recommend testing it without Wi-Fi or cellular service before you leave. That way, you’ll know what works when you need it most.

Have you ever used your phone’s camera to translate a sign or menu while traveling, or is this a trick you’ll try on your next trip? Let us know in the comments below.

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