Whether you're finding your way around foreign countries or connecting with multilingual family and friends, Pixel Buds makes it easier with translation right in your ear while using a Pixel or Android 6.0+ phone. When you want to talk with someone, you can use conversation mode. When you want to follow along and understand what's being said, transcribe mode lets you hear spoken language translated right in your ear accompanied with a transcript on your phone.
To use with Google Translate you need:
- A Google Assistant-enabled Android device (The device must meet all requirements within the linked article)
- The latest version of the Google app
- The latest version of the Google Translate app
- An Internet connection
Talk to someone
How To Translate with Google Pixel Buds Pro | Google Pixel Buds Pro
With the assistance of the Google Translate app on your phone, your Google Pixel Buds can translate conversations between the following languages:
|
Afrikaans |
English |
Japanese |
Serbian |
|
Arabic |
Finnish |
Khmer |
Sinhala |
|
Armenian |
French |
Korean |
Slovak |
|
Bengali |
German |
Latvian |
Spanish |
|
Catalan |
Greek |
Nepali |
Swahili |
|
Chinese (Mandarin only) |
Hindi |
Norwegian |
Swedish |
|
Croatian |
Hungarian |
Polish |
Tamil |
|
Czech |
Icelandic |
Portuguese |
Thai |
|
Danish |
Indonesian |
Romanian |
Turkish |
|
Dutch |
Italian |
Russian |
Vietnamese |
Step 1: Select language
With Google Assistant: Ask Google Assistant to help translate on Google Pixel Buds
Note: A Google Account is required.
- While you are wearing Google Pixel Buds, touch and hold either earbud or say 'Hey Google' to invoke your Google Assistant.
- Tell the Google Assistant to help you interpret a language. For example, say "Help me speak Spanish".
This launches Google Translate in conversation mode with your default language and the language that you request.
Without Google Assistant: Select your languages
- Open Translate
.
- In the bottom-left corner, choose the language you speak.
- In the bottom-right corner, choose the language the other person is speaking.
- Tap conversation
.
Step 2: Begin your conversation
- Touch and hold either earbud.
- Start speaking in the language listed under the headset icon.
- Release your finger from the earbud when finished.
Your phone then translates and reads out loud what you said into your selected language.
Step 3: Receive a response
- In Google Translate, tap the right microphone
.
- Get the other person to start speaking.
When the second person has finished speaking, their response will be translated into your language and played back to you in your ears via your Google Pixel Buds.
Listen to another language with transcribe mode
With the assistance of the Google Translate app on your phone, your Pixel Buds can help you hear spoken language continuously translated into your ear accompanied with a transcript on your phone to provide the gist of what's being said.
Transcribe mode on Pixel Buds currently supports translating from English to French, German, Italian or Spanish.
With Google Assistant
Step 1: Ask Google Assistant to help transcribe with Google Pixel Buds
Note: A Google Account is required for access to all the features listed in this step.
- While you are wearing Google Pixel Buds, touch and hold either earbud or say 'Hey Google' to activate your Google Assistant.
- Tell your Google Assistant to help you understand a language. For example, say 'Ayúdame a entender inglés'. For more information go to Get help from Google Assistant on Google Pixel Buds.
This launches Google Translate in transcribe mode listening to the language that you request (English), and translating to your default language (French, German, Italian or Spanish).
Assistant queries for transcribe mode
French: Hey Google, aide-moi à comprendre l'anglais.
German: Hey Google, hilf mir, Englisch zu verstehen.
Italian: Hey Google, aiutami a capire l'inglese.
Spanish: Hey Google, ayúdame a entender inglés.
Step 2: Begin listening
- Listen through your Google Pixel Buds and you can also follow a translated transcript on your phone. Text will be spoken only after each sentence has been translated.
Without Google Assistant
Step 1: Select your languages
- Open Translate
- Tap Transcribe
.
- In the bottom-left corner, choose which language you want to listen to (supported language: English).
- In the bottom-right corner, choose the language that you want the spoken words to be translated to (supported languages: French, German, Italian or Spanish).
Step 2: Begin listening
- Listen through your Google Pixel Buds and you can also follow a translated transcript on your phone. Text will be spoken only after each sentence has been translated.
Tips
The transcribe feature will work best in a quiet environment with one person speaking at a time. In other situations, the app will still do its best to provide the gist of what's being said.
Troubleshoot
- Move closer to the audio source
- The audio source may be too quiet, fast or difficult to understand. If possible, ask the person speaking to speak louder, slower or more clearly
- Toggle the microphone on/off
- Check that your input/output languages are correct
- Check the Wi-Fi connection
Requires a Google Assistant-enabled Android 6.0+ device, Google Account and an Internet connection. Data rates may apply. Translation is not instantaneous. For available languages go to g.co/pixelbuds/help
Pixel Buds (2017)
With the assistance of your Google Pixel Buds, you can easily converse with someone who doesn't speak your language.
What you'll need:
- An Android phone with Google Assistant
- Google Pixel Buds that are currently connected to your phone
- The most up-to-date version of the Google Translate app
- The latest version of the Google app
Translate without Google Assistant
Step 1: Select your languages
- Open the Translate app
.
- At the top-left corner, choose which language will be spoken into the Pixel Buds.
- At the top-right corner, choose the language that will be spoken into the phone as a reply.
- Tap the microphone in the centre of the card to begin conversation mode.
Step 2: Begin your conversation
- Touch and hold the right earbud.
- Start speaking in the language listed under the headset icon.
- Release your finger from the right earbud when finished.
Your phone will then translate what you said in your selected language, so that the other person can understand it.
Step 3: Receive a response
- Hold your finger on the microphone icon
in your Google Translate app.
- After the chime, have the other person respond back to you in the language listed under the microphone icon.
- When they've finished responding, release your finger from the microphone icon
When the second person has finished speaking, their response will be translated into your language and played back to you in your ears via your Google Pixel Buds.
Translate with Google Assistant
Step 1: Ask Google Assistant to help translate on Google Pixel Buds
Note: A Google Account is required for access to all features listed in this step.
- While you are wearing Google Pixel Buds, touch & hold the right earbud to invoke your Google Assistant.
- Tell your Google Assistant to help you interpret a language. For example, say 'Help me interpret Spanish'.
This will launch Google Translate in conversation mode with the pair of your default language and the language that you request.
Step 2: Begin your conversation
- Touch and hold the right earbud.
- Start speaking in the language listed under the headset icon.
- Release your finger from the right earbud when finished.
Your phone will then translate what you said in your selected language, so that the other person can understand it.
Step 3: Receive a response
- Hold your finger on the microphone icon
- After the chime, have the other person respond back to you in the language listed under the microphone icon.
- When they've finished responding, release your finger from the microphone icon
When the second person has finished speaking, their response will be translated into your language and played back to you in your ears via your Google Pixel Buds.