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iOS 26.2 Expands Live Translation on AirPods to EU

The upcoming iOS 26.2 update for iPhone makes the Live Translation on AirPods feature available in the EU, according to Apple. The news was also reported by various publications, including the German blog Macerkopf.

AirPods Live Translation
Live Translation allows you to understand someone who is speaking a different language than you. For example, if you speak English, and someone is speaking to you in French, Siri can tell you what they are saying in English through your AirPods.

The feature works best when both participants in a conversation are using Live Translation on AirPods. If you are talking with someone who is not wearing AirPods, you can display a live transcription in the other person's language on your iPhone.

Live Translation is available on the AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and higher-end AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. The feature launched in the U.S. and select other countries with iOS 26, but it was not available in the EU until now, as Apple said it needed additional time to ensure compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act.

The feature can be used in the EU starting with the first iOS 26.2 beta, which was seeded to developers earlier today. A public beta of iOS 26.2 will soon follow, and Apple said the update will be released to all users in December.

In addition to compatible AirPods, users need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer with Apple Intelligence turned on and Apple's Translate app installed.

As of iOS 26.1, Live Translation on AirPods supports the following languages:

  • English (U.S.)
  • English (U.K.)
  • French (France)
  • German (Germany)
  • Portuguese (Brazil)
  • Spanish (Spain)
  • Chinese — Simplified (China)
  • Chinese — Traditional (China)
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Italian

iOS 26 also has a built-in Live Translation feature in the Messages, Phone, and FaceTime apps, with no AirPods required.

Related Forums: AirPods, iOS 26

Top Rated Comments

ProbablyDylan Avatar
21 weeks ago
So they could have done that earlier. They just didn't want to. Good to know.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Camel993 Avatar
21 weeks ago
Now iPhone mirroring please.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CWallace Avatar
21 weeks ago
Nice to see that Apple was able to bring it into compliance with the DMA.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProbablyDylan Avatar
21 weeks ago

You think Apple is making decisions that cost them money out of spite?
Yes.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ForkHandles Avatar
21 weeks ago
I tried this feature in Germany at the weekend during a tour to a brewery.

Unfortunately it was a group tour so the audio wasn’t picking up clearly. When it did, the translation was too slow to be of any use.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
21 weeks ago
Polish when?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)