Translator for Windows 10 FAQs

Edge translator add-in is not installing

Please start a chat with a support engineer using the following link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contact/menu/software/windows/ts/.

How to download language packs for offline use

To be able to use Translator when you are offline, you need to download the language packs of the from-language and the to-language you’d like to use when you are offline. The English language pack has already been downloaded.

Downloading a language pack works as follows:

• Make sure you are using a Wi-Fi connection and that your device is not in battery saving mode.
• Tap or click on Translator
• Tap or click on Language Packs at the top right of your screen
• Tap or click on the language pack you would like to download from the list of language packs on the right of your screen
• Tap or click on Download
• You will see that the language pack starts to download

The language pack has downloaded when you see that it appears in the Installed list on the left of your screen.

How to join a conversation

When someone has already started a conversation and gives you a code, you can join the conversation as follows:

• Click the Conversation tab
• Join a conversation by entering the conversation code
• Enter your name and language
• Your conversation will appear. You can press and hold Ctrl + Spacebar to speak, or type a message.

How to start a conversation

• Click the Conversation tab
• Select “Start Conversation”
• Enter your name and language
• Your conversation will appear, with a 5-letter conversation code and a QR code. People can join the conversation by scanning this code, or manually entering the code from their device.
• The live conversation will appear inline

How to translate a PDF file

You can translate Word documents and PDF files (once you have converted them to a Word document).

• Open Word
• Open the PDF file by choosing it in Word (Tap/click on File and then on Open)
• Say OK to the question to convert the .pdf to a Word document
• Go to the Review ribbon
• Tap/click on the Translate button
• Select Set Document Translation Language
• A right-hand menu slides open
• Select the from-language and the to-language
• Tap/click on the Translate button and the document will appear in the language you selected.

How to translate a webpage using the Microsoft Translator plug-in

Microsoft Edge

If you are using Microsoft 10 with the Windows 10 Anniversary update, you can add the Microsoft Translator extension to your Edge browser to instantly translate webpages: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/translator-for-microsoft-edge/9nblggh4n4n3

If you are using Windows 10, but have not received the Anniversary Update, learn more here.

Once you have installed the Translator add-in, the translation icon is visible in the address bar. When you visit a foreign-language webpage in Microsoft Edge you can then click on the icon to instantly translate the webpage to a language of your choice. You can also select a sentence on the page and then use right click to translate the selected text. The extension works with all of the languages supported by Microsoft Translator.

Internet Explorer

Select the text, right-click and select “Translate with Bing”

Other Browsers

Go to the Translator for Bing webpage at www.bing.com/translator and enter the URL into the translation field. This will only work for non-secure sites (http://, not https://).

How to translate images

• Click the Translate tab
• Select the Image menu
• Select the language of the text within the photo, and the language you want to translate to
• Click Open to upload an image (.gif, .jpg, or .png)
• The translation will overlay on the original text, and the translated text will appear on the right.

How to translate speech

How to translate speech

• Click the Translate tab
• Select the Voice menu
• Select the language you are speaking, and the language you want to translate to. For a list of supported speech and text languages, click here.
• Click the microphone button, or Ctrl+Spacebar, and say something
• Your words will be transcribed on the left, and the translation on the right.

How to translate text

• Enter the text you want to translate in the box on the left
• Verify that the language of your content is correct
• Auto-Detect: If Auto-Detect is selected, Translator attempts to determine the language automatically. In short texts, there is sometimes not enough information to detect the correct language. In that case please choose the source language manually.
• Choose the language you want to translate to on the right.
• The translated text will appear in the box on the right.

Text translation features

• Listen to the translation: Hear a playback of the translation (Text-To-Speech technology)
• Learn more: Highlight any word and click “Dictionary” to look up the word’s possible translations. View example sentences in both languages to decide which translation works best given your particular context.
• Pin translations to view later within your History tab.
• Save the translations to a text file.
• Share translations through email, or any other Windows 10 apps such as OneNote, Skype, Twitter, etc.

How to translate using Windows Ink

• First, make sure you have installed the Ink languages you’d like to use. Go to Windows Settings > Time & Language > Region & language, Choose a language, and click Options. Under Handwriting, click Download.
• Select the from and to language
• Use your pen, mouse, or stylus to hand write something into the input box
• Your transcribed text will appear in the left box, and the translation on the right.

How to use the Phrasebook

• Click the Phrasebook tab
• Choose from one of our phrasebook categories
• Select the from and to language
• Choose from the sub-menu, and the phrase will appear in the box on right
• You can Listen to the translation (Text-To-Speech), highlight a word and click the Dictionary icon to find the meaning of the word in the context of the full sentence, Copy the translation, or add it to your Favorite list by clicking the star icon.

Is there a translator app for my PC?

Yes. Download the Microsoft Translator Windows 10 app from the Microsoft store.

Translator Dictionary

When using the Microsoft Translator Windows 10 app, you can use the Dictionary feature in the context of a full sentence.

• Open the Microsoft Translator Windows 10 app
• Select the Translate tab, then Text
• Select the from and to language
• Type your sentence or copy/paste your text
• In the box to the right, highlight specific words in the language you translated to.
• Click the Dictionary icon, and you will see a translation of the word, and an “Examples” tab providing example sentences of the highlighted word.

How to translate an email

The quickest way to translate the occasional email is to copy and paste the text in https://www.bing.com/translator

If you translate emails on a regular basis, install the Translator for Outlook add-in.

Why can’t I listen to the audio of a translation?

Some languages have text to speech audio output, allowing you to hear the translated text by tapping the speaker icon. Languages that have text-to-speech capabilities will be represented by a speaker icon below the translation. Please find the list of languages that support text to speech on our Languages page.

Translating audio from movies, video clips, or external media

The Microsoft Translator app does not support translation of external media sources or files, such as movies or video clips.

Why am I unable to speak in the conversation?

Troubleshoot in the following order:

• Make sure your language is listed as a speech-supported language in the drop down list. Check out our language list here.
• Are you on iOS using Safari on iPhone or iPad? If so, there are technical limitations on these devices that inhibits websites from accessing their microphones. If you’re on an iPhone or iPad using the Safari browser, you won’t be able to use our speech features, even if a speech-supported language is selected.

If your speech language is supported, and you’re not using Safari on iPhone or iPad:

• Confirm you clicked yes when your device or browser asked for microphone access to use Translator. Without the permission to access your microphone, you won’t be able to use our speech features.
• Verify you haven’t been muted by the host of the conversation. If the host is giving a presentation or wants to prevent interruptions, they might have muted participants from speaking.

Is the Microsoft Translator app free?

The Microsoft Translator App is free of charge.

If you’re interested in using the Microsoft Translator API for business, visit our business site.

I’m trying to enter a conversation using the five-letter code. Why do I see the “invalid conversation code” error?

Troubleshoot in the following order:

• Did the host of the conversation lock new participants from joining? If so, this is the message that will appear on screen.
• If the host has not locked out new participants:
  • Make sure the five-letter code you entered is correct.
  • Verify the conversation is still active. A conversation ceases to exist when the conversation host ends the conversation or if there are no participants active in the conversation.

Speech translation languages: what is available for which feature?

Visit our languages page for complete list of languages and features in the app.

Why do I need to use a headset to use this product?

A headset provides a close-talking microphone that produces a higher quality of recognition for the user’s speech and is less likely to pick up noise from your environment.

Using a headset, a lapel microphone or a bluetooth microphone will result in the best quality of speech recognition and therefore have improved translations compared to a laptop or a PC’s default microphone.

Why do I repeatedly see “disconnected” messages while in a conversation?

Users will often see “disconnected” messages on account of poor internet connectivity. If you are repeatedly seeing “disconnected” messages while in a conversation, try switching to a different internet network or try switching from a cellular network to WiFi to resolve the issue.