Safari has had a built-in translation feature since 2020, but many users still do not know it exists or how to use it effectively. Whether you are browsing a foreign news site, reading a recipe in another language, or researching content for language learning, Safari can translate entire web pages with just a couple of taps. Here is everything you need to know about translating pages in Safari on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
If you are interested in using web translation as part of a language learning strategy, check out our guide on website translation for language learning.
Translate a Web Page in Safari on Mac
Safari's translation on macOS is straightforward once you know where to look. Follow these steps:
- 1Open the web page
Navigate to any web page that is in a language different from your Mac's system language.
- 2Look for the translate icon
In the address bar (Smart Search Field), you will see a translate icon — it looks like two overlapping speech bubbles. If the icon does not appear, Safari does not detect a translatable foreign language on the page.
- 3Click the translate icon
A dropdown menu will appear showing the detected language and your preferred language.
- 4Select 'Translate to [Your Language]'
Click this option and Safari will translate the entire page. The text is replaced inline, so the layout stays intact.
- 5View the original
To switch back, click the translate icon again and select 'View Original'. You can toggle back and forth as needed.
Requirement: macOS Big Sur (11.0) or later. If you are running an older version of macOS, you will not have the built-in translation feature and will need a third-party solution.
Translate a Web Page in Safari on iPhone
Translating pages on iPhone is even simpler since Safari is the default browser for most iOS users.
- 1Open Safari and navigate to the page
Go to any web page in a foreign language using Safari on your iPhone.
- 2Tap the 'aA' button
In the address bar, tap the 'aA' button on the left side. This opens the page settings menu.
- 3Tap 'Translate to [Language]'
You will see a 'Translate to English' (or your system language) option. Tap it.
- 4Confirm if prompted
The first time you use this feature, Apple may ask you to confirm. Tap 'Enable Translation' to proceed.
- 5Toggle back anytime
To view the original, tap the 'aA' button again and select 'View Original'.
Requirement: iOS 14 or later. Most iPhones in use today support this, but if your device is stuck on an older version, the translate option will not appear.
Translate a Web Page in Safari on iPad
The process on iPad is nearly identical to iPhone, with a slight difference in where the button appears depending on your iPad model and orientation.
- 1Open a foreign language page in Safari
Navigate to any page written in a supported foreign language.
- 2Tap the 'aA' button in the address bar
On iPad, this is in the top-left of the address bar (similar to iPhone). On newer iPadOS versions, you may also see the translate icon directly.
- 3Select 'Translate to [Language]'
The translation will happen inline, preserving the page layout and images.
- 4Switch back with 'View Original'
Use the same menu to toggle back to the original language whenever you want.
Requirement: iPadOS 14 or later.
Supported Languages
As of 2026, Safari's built-in translation supports approximately 20 languages. Apple has been steadily adding more with each OS release. Here is the current list:
If you need a language that is not on this list — for example, Hindi, Swahili, or Finnish — you will need to use a third-party translation tool instead.
Limitations of Safari Translation
While Safari's built-in translation is convenient, it does have some notable limitations you should be aware of:
Only about 20 languages are supported, far fewer than Google Translate's 130+.
Safari replaces the original text entirely. You cannot view the original and translated text side by side, which limits its usefulness for language learning.
PDF files opened in Safari cannot be translated using the built-in feature.
Pages that render content dynamically via JavaScript (like single-page apps) may not be fully detected or translated.
You cannot click individual words for definitions or pronunciation — it is all-or-nothing page translation.
For complex or technical content, Safari's translations can be less accurate than Google Translate or DeepL.
What to Do When Translation Is Not Available
If Safari's translate option is not appearing or the language you need is not supported, here are some workarounds:
- Reload the page — sometimes Safari needs a fresh load to detect the language.
- Check your OS version — translation requires macOS Big Sur / iOS 14 or later.
- Copy the URL and paste it into Google Translate's website translation tool (translate.google.com).
- Use a browser extension like Google Translate or Microsoft Translator for broader language support.
- Switch to Chrome or Edge temporarily, which have built-in Google Translate with 130+ languages.
Third-Party Alternatives
If Safari's built-in translation does not meet your needs, these third-party tools can fill the gap:
Google Translate Extension
While Google Translate does not have an official Safari extension, you can use the Google Translate website to translate any URL. Simply go to translate.google.com, paste the page URL, select your target language, and click the translated link. It supports 130+ languages and handles most page types well.
Microsoft Translator
Microsoft offers a Translator extension for Safari on Mac. It adds a translate button to your toolbar and supports over 70 languages. The translation quality is comparable to Google Translate for major languages. It is free to use and integrates smoothly with Safari's interface.
Using Web Translation for Language Learning
Page translation is not just a convenience feature — it can be a legitimate language learning tool when used strategically. Here are some effective approaches:
- Read-then-compare method:Try reading the original page first, then translate to check your comprehension. This builds reading skills actively.
- Paragraph-by-paragraph study:Read one paragraph in the original language, translate to check understanding, then re-read the original. This reinforces vocabulary in context.
- News immersion:Read daily news in your target language using sites like NHK (Japanese), El Pais (Spanish), or Le Monde (French). Use translation as a safety net when you get stuck.
- Vocabulary mining:When you encounter unknown words on translated pages, note them down for later study. Seeing words in real-world context helps retention.
The biggest limitation of standard page translation for learning is that it is all-or-nothing — you see either the original or the translation, never both. This is where specialized language learning tools have an advantage.
Funlingo: A Better Option for Language Learners
If your goal is not just to understand a page but to actually learn the language, a standard translator falls short. Funlingo takes a different approach — instead of replacing text, it helps you learn from the content you are already watching and reading online.
Funlingo's website translation feature shows bilingual text side by side, lets you click individual words for instant definitions and pronunciation, and saves vocabulary for later review. Combined with dual subtitles on Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video, it turns your entire browsing and streaming experience into a language lesson.
- Bilingual web page display — see original and translation together
- Click any word for instant translation and pronunciation
- Dual subtitles on Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video
- AI-powered grammar and context explanations
- Built-in vocabulary saver across all features
- Completely free — no subscription, no account required
Frequently Asked Questions
How many languages does Safari translate?
Safari supports approximately 20 languages for its built-in translation feature as of 2026. This includes major languages like English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, and Portuguese. Apple typically adds a few new languages with each major OS update, so the list continues to grow slowly.
Why is translate not showing in Safari?
There are several reasons the translate option might not appear. First, make sure you are running macOS Big Sur or later (or iOS 14+ on iPhone/iPad). The feature does not exist on older OS versions. Second, Safari may not detect the page language if the page uses JavaScript rendering, has mixed languages, or is already in your device's system language. Try reloading the page. If the page language is not in Safari's supported list, the option will not appear at all.
Can Safari translate PDFs?
No. Safari's built-in translation feature does not work with PDF files viewed in the browser. PDFs are rendered as document objects rather than standard HTML, so Safari cannot apply its page translation to them. If you need to translate a PDF, use Google Translate's document upload feature at translate.google.com, or a dedicated tool like DeepL's document translator.