Firefox tests Native Website Translations on Android

After desktop, Mozilla is working on bringing the ability for Firefox to translate webpages on Android. The Firefox translations feature, which is currently working in the Nightly version of Android, has been spotted by us.

For Windows, Mac and Linux, Mozilla Firefox introduced native in-browser translations with version 118 released in December 2023. This means you can translate web pages directly within the browser in real-time, without needing external extensions.

Translations happen locally on your device, ensuring privacy and security. Currently supported languages include Spanish, English, German, Bulgarian, Portuguese, Italian, French, Polish, and Dutch, with more languages coming to Firefox in future versions.

Unfortunately, native translations are not yet available on the Android version of Firefox. However, Mozilla is actively functioning on adding this feature to the browser on Android platforms. Here’s our first look at it.

Firefox’s native Translation feature is coming to Android

Unlike Google Translate or the translation feature in Microsoft Edge, Firefox language packs are downloaded onto the user’s device, and translations are done locally. This means Mozilla doesn’t know or record what webpages you translate.

When you come across a page that’s not in your spoken language, similar to the desktop version, Firefox will show a translate icon in the address bar on Android. Just tap it, choose a language from and a language to translate the website into, and tap Translate. Firefox will handle the rest.

Firefox Android translate options and Settings

Firefox offers translation options that include toggles for:

• Always offer translate option
• Always or never translate a particular language
• Never translate that specific site

The translation settings include:

• Offer to translate when possible
• Always download languages in data-saving mode

Translation Preferences:

• Automatic translation: Select a language to manage ‘always translate’ and ‘never translate’ preferences.
• Never translate these sites: [List of specific sites to exclude from translation]

Private translation in Firefox for Android is currently in Beta. For your privacy, translations never leave your device, according to Mozilla’s claims through the translate banner. The banner also promises support for new languages and improvements soon.

What’s your take on Firefox’s built-in webpage translation feature on Android? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.