Firefox includes a built-in translation tool to help you browse the web in your preferred language. Unlike some browsers, translations happen entirely on your device, so your text is never sent to cloud servers. Once the required language files are installed, you can also translate supported content without an internet connection.

This article explains how to translate full pages and selected text, manage languages and translation preferences, turn translation features on or off and fix common translation problems.

Translate the full page

1. When you visit a webpage in a supported language, the translation panel will open automatically.
   • If the panel does not open, click the translation icon in the toolbar.

   

   • Alternatively, you can select Translate page from the Firefox menu.You can also right-click anywhere on the page and select Translate page from the context menu.
2. Firefox detects the page language automatically. To change it, use the top dropdown menu.

   

3. Next, select your desired translation language from the bottom dropdown menu, which will be pre-populated with your first preferred language. (For example, to translate a supported page into Spanish, select the page's language in the top menu and Spanish in the bottom menu.)

   

4. Click Translate to translate the entire page.

   

5. To revert the page to the original language, click the toolbar icon and select Show original.

   

Translate selected text

You might need to translate a specific word or sentence when reading in a foreign language. Firefox enables you to highlight and translate selected text to help with these situations.

1. Highlight the text.
2. Right click and select Translate selection to <your language>.

   

3. The selected text will be translated and displayed in a pop-up. From here, click Copy to save the translation to your clipboard, Translate full page to translate the entire webpage or Done to close the pop-up.

   

4. Also, right-click a hyperlink without selecting any text to translate the link text.

   

Customize translation settings

To tailor your translation experience:

1. On the right-hand side of the toolbar, click the translation icon.

   

2. Click the cog icon located on the top right side of the translation panel.

   

3. Choose the setting you want to apply.

   

4. A checkmark will appear to confirm that the selected setting is enabled.

   

5. To revert a change, simply reselect the setting, and the checkmark will disappear, indicating that it's disabled.

Always translate a language

To have Firefox automatically translate pages in a particular language:

1. Visit a page written in that language.
2. Click the translation icon.
3. Click the cog icon.
4. Select Always translate <language>.

Never translate a language or website

You can create exceptions for languages and websites you do not want Firefox to translate.

1. Open the translation panel.
2. Click the cog icon.
3. Select Never translate <language> to stop translation offers for that language, or Never translate this site to create an exception for the current website.

To remove an exception, open the translation settings again and reselect the enabled option.

Configure installed languages

To configure your installed languages:

1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and select Settings (or Preferences, in some cases).Click the menu button and select Settings.
2. Under the General panel, scroll down to Language and Appearance sectionSelect Languages on the left.
3. Under TranslationsScroll down to Translations, click on More translation settings, and select from the list the languages you wish to have available for in-browser translation and click Install.
   Note: The first time you translate from/to a language, it gets automatically installed in your device, so, you may see some languages already installed when accessing these settings.

   

4. To uninstall a language, just click Remove.

   

Language packs are typically a few megabytes in size and download in seconds on a standard broadband connection. The first translation to or from a new language may take a brief moment while the pack installs. Once installed, translations appear instantly.

Language availability can change as Firefox adds translation support. If Portuguese, including the Portuguese variant you need, Polish or another language does not appear, check the current list of supported languages. Also confirm that Firefox supports the translation direction you need.

Fix translation problems

The translation icon or controls are missing

If Firefox's translation feature isn't working as expected or the translation icon does not appear:

1. Go to Settings > AI Controls and make sure Translations is set to Available.
2. Verify that the page you're trying to translate is in one of Firefox's supported languages.
3. If the translation icon doesn't appear in the toolbar, right-click on the page and select Translate page from the context menu.
4. You can also open the Firefox menu and look for Translate page.
5. Make sure Firefox is up to date, since translation availability can depend on your Firefox version.

A language is missing

If a language pack didn't download properly or the language you want is missing:

1. Go to Settings > General > Language and Appearance > Translations.
2. Find the language you need and click Install if it is available.
3. Check the current list of supported languages if the language does not appear.
4. Confirm that Firefox supports the source and destination language combination you want to use.

For example, if you want to translate content into Spanish, make sure Firefox supports both the source language and Spanish for that translation direction.

If Portuguese, including PT-PT, Polish, or another language you need is missing, check Mozilla's current supported-language list. Language support can change over time.

Firefox detects the wrong language

If Firefox detects the page language incorrectly:

1. Open the translation panel.
2. Open the top language menu.
3. Select the language used on the page.
4. Select the language you want to translate into from the bottom menu.
5. Click Translate.

Pages containing several languages may not translate all content correctly because Firefox primarily focuses on the selected main language.

Translation preferences do not stay selected

If Always translate, Never translate, or another translation preference does not behave as expected:

1. Open the translation panel and click the cog icon to confirm that your preference is still selected.
2. Check for a conflicting Never translate <language> or Never translate this site setting.
3. Go to Settings > AI Controls and confirm that Translations is still available.
4. Update Firefox and try the setting again.

If the problem continues, see Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems.

The translation is incorrect

Machine translations can sometimes misinterpret words, context or pages that contain more than one language.

If a translation looks incorrect:

1. Check that Firefox detected the correct source language.
2. Select the correct source language manually if needed.
3. Try translating only the relevant text to compare the result.
4. If your Firefox version provides a translation feedback control, use it to report a poor translation.

FAQ

What languages are currently supported by Firefox Translations?

Find the list of currently supported languages on this Mozilla page.

Language availability changes over time, so check this page for current languages and supported translation directions.

Is Firefox's translation feature available on mobile version?

This feature is available for Firefox for Android (starting from version 126) and Firefox for iOS (starting from version 146).

Does Firefox's translation feature work with non-text content, like images or videos?

No. Translation works only with text.

What if I encounter a page with mixed languages or content in multiple languages? Will the translation still work?

While the translation feature primarily focuses on the main language of the webpage, it may not handle pages with mixed languages or content in multiple languages optimally.

If Firefox detects the wrong main language, select the correct source language manually from the translation panel.

Can Firefox translate pages that are password-protected or behind login screens?

Yes, Firefox can translate password-protected or login-required pages, as long as the content is fully displayed on your screen. The translation feature works on any webpage content that Firefox can access and render.

How do I revert a page to its original language after translation?

To revert a page to its original language after translation, click the toolbar icon and select Show original.

How do I stop the translation panel from opening automatically?

When Firefox detects that a page is translatable, it will open the translation panel automatically. To turn this off, click the cog icon and select the Always offer to translate option to turn it off. Alternatively, you can choose to turn the panel off only for certain languages or sites by selecting Never translate <language> or Never translate this site respectively.

Why do I need to install languages?

Installing languages enables Firefox to perform translations locally within your browser, prioritizing your privacy and security. As you translate, Firefox downloads partial language files as you need them. To pre-install complete languages yourself, access the language settings in Firefox Settings, General panel, in the Language and Appearance section under Translations.

How is Firefox's translation feature different from Chrome or Edge?
Unlike Chrome and Edge, which send text to Google or Microsoft servers in the cloud for translation, Firefox translates everything on your device. Your browsing data never leaves your computer during translation, offering a more private experience.

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