If you’re traveling overseas this summer, the Google Translate can come in handy to quickly translate a road sign or conversation. The latest Google Translate update allows you to pick the app as your default translation app for Apple iPhones and iPads running iOS and iPadOS 18.4 and later. Previously, you were limited to Apple’s built-in option.
Google began leveraging AI to boost Google Translate’s offerings, adding 110 new languages last year to increase its total to 249 languages. Compare that to Apple Translate, which supports 19 languages.
Neither Google nor Apple immediately responded to a request for comment.
Both apps offer voice and text translation, including a camera feature that lets you instantly translate by pointing your camera at text. Both also allow you to use translation features without an internet connection, which can come in particularly handy when traveling to more remote locations.
After using both, I found that the Google Translate picked up speech a little quicker so I wasn’t constantly having to repeat myself, and the audio pronunciations were a little easier to understand than on Apple Translate. I switched to Google Translate as the default on my iPhone, and here’s how you can, too.
How to set Google Translate as the default option on your iPhone or iPad
Choosing Google Translate as your default app is simple to do on your iPhone or iPad, so long as you’re running iOS or and iPadOS 18.4 and later:
- Download the Google Translate app, or make sure you update it to the latest version
- On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings
- Scroll to the bottom and select Apps
- Click on Default Apps at the top of the screen
- Select Translation
- Choose Google Translate
