If you find that Chrome Translate is not working, you’re not alone. Many users experience issues like translation popups not appearing or auto-translate settings not functioning as expected. This guide will help you troubleshoot and fix these problems, whether you’re using Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Quick Fixes to Try First
- Refresh the page. Google’s own first fix when Translate doesn’t work is to reload the page.
- Ensure you are connected to the internet.
- Clear the cache: select More > Delete browsing data.
- Restart Chrome and try again.
Check Chrome’s Translate Settings (Windows, Mac, Linux)
The settings are the same on every computer. These steps follow Google’s guide to translating pages in Chrome.
- Open Chrome and click the three dots in the top-right corner, then Settings.
- On the left, select Languages.
- Under Google Translate, make sure Use Google Translate is turned on.
- Check Never offer to translate these languages. If the page’s language is listed there, select Remove next to it.
- Check Translate into this language and pick the language you want pages translated into.
- Go back to the page and select Translate on the right of the address bar, or right-click the page and select Translate to [Language].
To translate only part of a page, highlight the text, right-click it, and select Translate selection to [Language]. If Chrome still won’t translate, go to translate.google.com, select Websites at the top, and paste the page’s address.
chrome://flags and select Reset all to rule them out.Google Translate Extension as an Alternative
Google’s Google Translate extension translates text you highlight or right-click. Its store listing says it no longer translates whole pages, because page translation is built into Chrome.
- Open the extension’s page in the Chrome Web Store.
- Click Add to Chrome and follow the prompts to install it.
- Highlight or right-click text on a page and click the Translate icon next to it.
| Feature | Built-in Chrome Translate | Google Translate Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-page translation | Yes | No, handled by Chrome |
| Selected text | Yes, via right-click | Yes, via the Translate icon |
| Automatic translation | Yes, for languages you add in settings | Optional pop-up when you highlight text |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the translation popup not appearing?
Check that Use Google Translate is on in Settings > Languages, and that the page’s language is not in the Never offer to translate these languages list.
How do I enable auto-translate for a specific language?
Go to Settings > Languages. Under Google Translate, next to Automatically translate these languages, select Add languages, choose the language, and select Add.
What if the page still doesn’t translate after trying all fixes?
Consider resetting Chrome to default settings in Settings > Reset settings. Bookmarks and passwords are kept.
Can I customize which languages to translate automatically?
Yes. In Settings > Languages, under Google Translate, use the Automatically translate these languages and Never offer to translate these languages lists.
Are there any keyboard shortcuts for translation?
Chrome’s list of keyboard shortcuts has no shortcut for translation. Use the Translate button in the address bar or the right-click menu.