iOS 17.2 Beta Adds Translate Option for Action Button - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iOS 17.2 Beta Adds Translate Option for Action Button

by

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max users can select a new "Translate" option for the Action Button with the new iOS 17.2 beta. Apple promised that a Translate option was coming for the Action Button, but said that it would not be available right when the new iPhones launched in September.

ios 17 translate
When the Action Button is set as Translate, pressing to hold causes the iPhone to pop up a Translate window that listens for spoken text. It is able to translate from one set language to another, using the languages that you have previously set up in the Translate app.

The languages you translate between can be changed by selecting different languages in the Translate app. The Translate app supports Chinese, English, Dutch, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

To choose the Translate option for the Action Button, open up the Settings app, scroll down to Action Button, and then swipe through until you get to the Translate function.

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro Rumored Colors

What's Coming in September: New iPhones, Apple Watches and More

Thursday August 13, 2026 4:20 pm PDT by
Apple will introduce at least five new devices at its iPhone-centric event next month, and it's also possible we'll get devices waiting on Siri AI like the Apple TV. iPhone 18 Pro The iPhone 18 Pro is going to look like the iPhone 17 Pro, but with a smaller Dynamic Island. It's getting some internal updates, including a new Wide camera with a variable aperture for more control over lighting ...
Read Full Article • 24 comments
iPhone 17 One Year Later Thumb 1

Should You Buy an iPhone 17 Now or Wait for iPhone 18?

Friday August 14, 2026 12:15 pm PDT by
For the first time since Apple started selling standard and "Pro" iPhones, we're not going to get an entry-level iPhone model this fall. Apple doesn't plan to release an iPhone 18 in September, and will only launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Ultra. The lower-cost iPhone 18 won't come out until spring 2027. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more ...
Read Full Article • 96 comments
Everything New Your iPhone Can Do on iOS 27 Feature 1

30 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27

Friday August 14, 2026 6:24 am PDT by
Apple will release iOS 27 in September, and despite the company's focus this year on refining its flagship operating system and nixing bugs, there are still many additional features on the way, not least of which is Apple's new context-aware Siri, re-tooled for the generative AI era. This year's major iPhone software update isn't all about AI, though, as the following feature list...
Read Full Article • 40 comments

Top Rated Comments

Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
Apple Knowledge Navigator
37 months ago
“Mister Spock, analysis please”

“Well Jim according to my calculations, Siri is still just as bad.”
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chalkdiesel Avatar
chalkdiesel
37 months ago
That's cool but I'm eyeing the wallpaper right now!!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nutmac Avatar
nutmac
37 months ago

This appears to be the glaring omission to me as well. The button should be capable of at least three configurations. Press, long press and double press.

Example:

Press = mute

Long press = translate

Double press = flashlight
Press needs to be long press to prevent accidental trigger.

But surely, the Action button should be able to support click-then-hold and double-clicks-then-hold.

Alternatively, different Action button trigger for different focus mode.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
appleguy123 Avatar
appleguy123
37 months ago
90 day fiancé just got way less interesting.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tweaknmod Avatar
tweaknmod
37 months ago
As someone whose in-laws all speak another language, this is spectacular news!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
4
4Apples
37 months ago

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max users can select a new "Translate" option for the Action Button with the new iOS 17.2 beta. Apple promised that a Translate option was coming for the Action Button, but said that it would not be available right when the new iPhones launched in September.



When the Action Button is set as Translate, pressing to hold causes the iPhone to pop up a Translate window that listens for spoken text. It is able to translate from one set language to another, using the languages that you have previously set up in the Translate app.

The languages you translate between can be changed by selecting different languages in the Translate app. The Translate app supports Chinese, English, Dutch, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

To choose the Translate option for the Action Button, open up the Settings app, scroll down to Action Button, and then swipe through until you get to the Translate function.

Article Link: iOS 17.2 Beta Adds Translate Option for Action Button ('https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/26/ios-17-2-translate-action-button/')
Apple needs to do more with the action button, like a different option with a double tap. Perhaps that’s in the works?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments