Set Google Translate as your iPhone's default translator

When you select text on an iPhone and choose Translate, iOS uses its default translation app. Apple’s own Translate app does not support Irish, so the result is usually “language not supported”. Google Translate does support Irish, and since iOS 18.4 you can make it the default.

Read Irish shows you the English for every sentence without any of this. The system translator is only for the odd word you want to look up on its own, or for Irish you meet outside the app.

What you need

• An iPhone or iPad on iOS 18.4 or later. Check under Settings › General › About.
• The free Google Translate app from the App Store.

Steps

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps, near the bottom of the list.
3. Tap Default Apps.
4. Tap Translation.
5. Choose Google Translate.

That is it. From now on, when you select Irish text anywhere and tap Translate, Google Translate handles it.

If you cannot see the option

• No “Translation” row under Default Apps. Your iPhone is on an older version of iOS. Update under Settings › General › Software Update.
• Google Translate is not listed. Open the Google Translate app once after installing it, then go back to Default Apps.

On Android

Android uses Google Translate for selected text already. Select some Irish, tap the three dots in the toolbar, and choose Translate.