product / browser ai

Native Translate

Private, local-first translation using Chrome's built-in Translator and Language Detector APIs. No cloud calls, no telemetry, and your content never leaves the browser.
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How Native Translate works

The extension calls Chrome's built-in desktop translation capabilities directly. Language packs download on demand, then remain available for offline use in the browser.

Browser support
Chrome 138 or later on desktop; Chrome mobile does not currently support these APIs.
On-device models
Chrome downloads and caches language packs locally, so text does not need to be sent to a cloud translator.
Language coverage
Chrome currently lists 39 supported language codes; exact language-pair availability is checked at runtime.

Read the official Chrome Translator API documentation

Measured on 2026-08-26

Chrome 151 desktop on macOS, English to Chinese. These are local probe timings, not estimates.

Environment
Chrome 151.0.0.0, macOS, 2026-08-26
First language pack
Translator.create() took 43,829 ms while availability was downloadable.
Offline after download
create + translate took 118 ms under DevTools Offline; the translation matched the online result.

Playwright Chrome for Testing 151 threw NotAllowedError without a user gesture when availability was downloadable. Runtime detection is typeof Translator !== "undefined" and typeof Translator.availability === "function". This is not Hy-MT and not /products/translate.

Powerful Features

Full-page Translation

Preserves original layout by intelligently appending translated text. Perfect for reading long articles and documentation.

Hover-to-translate

Hold a modifier key and hover over any paragraph for instant, context-aware translation without leaving your flow.

Input Translation

Type three spaces in any text field to instantly translate your input. Ideal for multilingual communication.

Side Panel Mode

Dedicated side panel for free-text translation with auto-detection. Works alongside your browsing.

EPUB Reader

Upload and translate entire EPUB books locally. Read foreign literature with ease.

Privacy by Design

Zero external translation requests. Processing uses Chrome's built-in Translator API and on-device language packs.

Your Data Stays Yours

Unlike traditional translation services that send your data to the cloud, Native Translate uses Chrome's new built-in AI capabilities to process everything locally.

  • No cloud API calls
  • No tracking or analytics
  • Works completely offline
  • Open source code

Permissions We Request

activeTabTo interact with the page you're viewing
storageTo save your preferences locally
scriptingTo inject translation UI when requested
sidePanelTo open the translation sidebar
related workflows
TranslateOn-device AI translator with self-hosted Hy-MT model delivery for developer and China-accessible workflowsMangoFlowAI chat sidebar for smarter web browsing and translation workflows
official links

Official links

Use these canonical links for citations, installation, source review, privacy checks, and support.

WebsiteChrome Web StoreGitHubPrivacy policySupport

Frequently Asked Questions

What does native translation mean here?

It means Chrome's built-in on-device Translator API, not a cloud translation service. Native Translate calls those APIs in the browser after language packs download.

Is Native Translate free?

Yes, Native Translate is completely free and open-source. There are no subscriptions or hidden fees.

Does it work offline?

Yes. Once the necessary language models are downloaded by Chrome, the extension works entirely offline without an internet connection.

Is my data private?

Absolutely. All translation happens locally on your device using Chrome's built-in AI. No data is ever sent to external servers.

Which browsers are supported?

Chrome 138 or later on desktop is required. The extension checks at runtime whether the Translator and Language Detector APIs are available.

Does Native Translate work on mobile?

Not currently. Chrome's official documentation says the Translator and Language Detector APIs are available on desktop Chrome, not mobile devices.

Ready to Translate Privately?

Join the future of browser AI. Fast, free, and private forever.

Install Native Translate