AirPods Pro 3 Live Translation — here's how to use it

How To
By published

Translate all of the conversations

AirPods Pro 3
(Image credit: Future)

One of the biggest new features in the AirPods Pro 3 launch is Live Translation, which lets you engage in conversations with people speaking a different language. We've tested it — it's very cool — and now we're here to tell you how to use it.

A couple of things before we get started. You'll need the latest version of iOS — iOS 26 — and have Apple Intelligence activated. You'll also need the Apple Translate app installed on your phone — and then you're good to go.

How to use Live Translate

Live Translation

(Image credit: Tom's Guide/Apple)

To get started, you'll want to head into the Apple Translate app and navigate to the "live" panel in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. From there, you can start a translation and see what's being said on screen. From here you can select what language you're listening to — Spanish, French, German, Portuguese and English — and then display the results for you and your conversation partner.

With your AirPods

It's actually super simple to get Live Translation working straight from your AirPods. Just press and hold on the AirPods stems until you hear the chime, and then have a conversation. If both members of the conversation have AirPods, you won't need to get your phone out — Live Translation will work for the two of you, translating your words into those that you'll understand.

If only one of you has AirPods, you can pull your phone out for the opposite translation. That way, your conversation partner will be able to understand what you're saying.

This feature works with AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, and the new AirPods Pro 3. Give it a try, test it out — and look forward to future updates that will bring more languages. Au revoir, merci, et bonne nuit!

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Tammy Rogers
Tammy Rogers
Audio Editor

Tammy and her generous collection of headphones have found a new home — Tom's Guide! After a two-and-a-half-year stint as iMore's resident audiophile, Tammy's reviews and buying guide expertise have more focus than ever on Tom's Guide, helping buyers find the audio gear that works best for them. Tammy has worked with some of the most desirable audio brands on the planet in her time writing about headphones, speakers, and more, bringing a consumer focussed approach to critique and buying advice. Away from her desk, you'll probably find her in the countryside writing (extremely bad) poetry, or putting her screenwriting Masters to good use creating screenplays that'll never see the light of day.

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