You Can Make Google Translate the Default Translation App on Your IPhone
Ever since Apple made it easy to change some of the default apps on your iPhone, it’s become quite convenient to switch away from the company’s apps when there’s a third-party option you prefer. With iOS 18.4, Apple has also made it possible to change your default translation app. First spotted by MacRumors , you can officially set Google Translate as your default translation app if you prefer that over Apple Translate.
Make Google Translate the Default Translation App on Your iPhone
There are a few ways to do this, but I recommend the easiest one. If you never use it, just delete the Apple Translate app from your iPhone, and the device will automatically select Google Translate as the default translation app — as long as you’re using the latest version of the Google app. This isn’t ideal for people who only use Apple Translate occasionally, but if you know you don’t need it, you can save time and storage space.
You can also make the switch without deleting any apps. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Translate and select Google Translate from the list. If you use any other translation apps that support Apple’s default apps feature, they should also appear on this page, and you can use your preferred app as the default option.
This feature can be used in any iPhone app that allows you to select text. Tap the Translate button in the drop-down menu above the selected text, and you’ll see Google Translate’s translation in the bottom half of your iPhone’s screen. It does a good job of detecting the language of the selected text and offering a translation in your preferred language (which is selected from your iPhone’s language settings), but it’s easy to change languages without leaving the app you’re using.
Before this feature arrived, you could still use Google Translate on your iPhone, but it required a few extra taps. It’s a small but useful way to streamline the process.