7 Best Fixes for Translate App Not Working on iPhone

The Apple Translate app comes pre-installed on iPhones. It can help in removing language barriers by helping you translate any language not known to you. The app proves to be useful, especially when you are traveling to a different region and need help with understanding everything from road directions, menu items, shop names, and more.

So, it can be a hassle if the Translate app stops working when you need it the most. If you are facing issues with the app, this post will share the best fixes for the Translate app not working on your iPhone.

1. Enable On-Device Mode

Let us first cover solutions for when you have to use the Translate app offline. If you see the error ‘Translation unavailable, please try again later,’ we suggest checking if On-Device Mode has been enabled. This will help in translating offline on your iPhone.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap on Translate.

Step 2: Tap the toggle next to On-Device Mode to enable the feature.

Enable the On-Device Mode only when you require offline translations.

2. Check Downloaded Languages

If you can’t translate offline, you should check whether the language translation has been downloaded on your device. This is again for when you need to use the Apple Translate app offline. To check and download languages, you will need an internet connection.

Step 1: Open the Translate app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap the three horizontal dots at the top-right corner and select Download Languages.

Step 3: Check whether the language of your choice has been downloaded. If not, tap the arrow icon next to the language name to download it.

After that, return to the Translate screen to check if the problem is solved.

3. Allow Mobile Data Usage

Coming to solutions for when you need to use the app online, we suggest allowing Mobile Data usage for the Translate app. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap on Translate.

Step 2: Tap the toggle next to Mobile Data to enable its usage.

Step 3: Close the Settings app and open Translate to check if the problem is solved.

4. Switch to 5G or Wi-Fi

If the translations take too long to appear on your iPhone screen, we suggest switching to 5G or to a stronger Wi-Fi network. That will make the translations quicker since mobile data speeds depend completely on your current location.

5. Force Quit and Relaunch Translate App

If the Translate app is freezing or crashing on your iPhone, you can force quit and relaunch the app. This will give the app a fresh start.

Step 1: On the home screen, swipe up and hold to reveal the background app windows.

Step 2: Swipe right to look for the Translate app window and swipe up to remove the app.

Step 3: Relaunch the Translate app and check if the problem is solved.

6. Update Translate App

You can try install the latest version of the Translate app after you update to the newest iOS version on your iPhone.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap on General.

Step 2: Select Software Update. Then, download and install the update if it is available.

Step 3: After that, open the Translate app and check if the problem is solved.

Refer to our post if your iPhone gets stuck on preparing the update.

7. Reset All Settings

If none of the solutions work, we suggest trying to reset all settings on your iPhone. This will restore all in-app settings to default, including the Translate app. This is an advanced solution and might cause data loss.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select General.

Step 2: Scroll down to the bottom and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.

Step 3: Tap on Reset at the bottom and select Reset Network Settings.

Step 4: Enter your passocode and select Reset Network Settings again.

Step 5: After that, open the Translate app and check if the problem is solved.

Translate When You Need

These solutions will help when the Apple Translate app is not working on your iPhone. If you’re on the fenxh about using a translation app, check our comparison of Google Translate vs Apple Translate before you decide on one of them as the sole option.