December 15, 2025 Google is rolling out a new feature that lets Android users hear live translations directly through their headphones. Powered by its Gemini AI model, the update supports more than 70 languages and is designed to make spoken translations sound more natural and easier to follow. But not all users can access it yet.
The feature, rolling out first on Android, allows users to open the Google Translate app, tap “Live translate” and listen as conversations around them are translated in real time. Google says the system preserves tone, emphasis and cadence. Therefore, the translations sound more natural than earlier word-for-word approaches.
Unlike Google Translate’s existing conversation mode, which relies on reading translations on a screen, the new option is designed for hands-free use. Audio is captured by the phone, processed using Gemini and streamed directly to headphones. Google says this makes it easier to follow short conversations, speeches or media without interrupting the flow.
The company says Gemini improves how Translate handles idioms, slang and local expressions. For example, phrases like “stealing my thunder” are translated based on meaning rather than literal wording, reducing confusion for listeners. As Rose Yao, Google’s vice-president of product for Search, explained, users “can now put in your headphones, open the Translate app, tap ‘Live translate’ and hear a real-time translation in your preferred language.”
Support currently covers languages like Spanish, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and German, with iOS availability and broader country support planned for next year. And Google says only Android users located in the United States, Indonesia and Mexico can access the feature with headphones for now.
Alongside live translation, Google is expanding language learning features inside Translate. The app now offers improved feedback during speaking practice and introduces streak tracking to encourage daily use. The availability is now rolling out to 20 additional countries, including Germany, Sweden, India and Taiwan.
The update is part of Google’s broader effort to move Translate beyond basic conversion of words and toward conveying meaning more naturally. While Google says the feature works best in relatively clear audio environments, it positions real-time translation as something users can access with hardware they already own.
