How to Get Automatic Email Translations in Gmail

Translate messages written in foreign languages to English in Gmail

What to Know

  • If Gmail detects a message that isn't written in your default language, a translation bar appears at the top of the message.
  • If you do not see a translation bar, select the three vertical dots beside the Reply button and select Translate message.
  • Select Always translate on the right side to translate messages in the original language automatically for the future.

This article explains how to translate Gmail emails. Gmail includes built-in support for Google Translate, so you don't need to copy-and-paste messages written in foreign languages into a translator tool.

How to Get Automatic Email Translations in Gmail

Follow these steps to translate a Gmail message from a different language:

  1. If Gmail detects a message that isn't written in your default language, a translation bar appears at the top of the message.

    If you do not see a translation bar, select the three vertical dots beside the Reply button and select Translate message from the drop-down menu.

    A screenshot of Gmail with the translation box highlighted
  2. Select the language of the email. Gmail usually detects the language automatically.

    Select the language of the email. Gmail will usually detect the language automatically.
  3. Select the target language if it's not set to your default.

    Select the target language if it's not already set to your default.
  4. Select Translate message to see the message in your language of choice.

    You may not see Translate message the first time you use it because choosing a language might trigger the translation automatically. If that's the case, choose Translate message the next time you open the app or if you change the translation language.

    A screenshot of a message in Gmail with the Translate Message button highlighted
  5. Select View original message to see the email in the original language again.

    Select Always translate on the right side to translate messages in the original language automatically for the future.

    A screenshot of Gmail with the View Original Message option highlighted
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