Translate messages in iMessage

On Mac

Make sure Mate is running; you'll see its icon in the menu bar.

1. In Messages, select the text of a message, or right-click the message bubble.
2. Choose Services › Translate with Mate Translate.
3. Mate opens over Messages with the translation. Press Esc to close it and keep chatting.

To reply in the other language, type in Mate, copy the translation and paste it into Messages. With Automatically copy translation on (Mate's Settings › General), the translation is already in the clipboard.

If the Services item doesn't show for a bubble, copy the message (right-click › Copy) and press Option+Shift+T with Auto-translate clipboard enabled.

On iPhone and iPad

• iOS 18.4 and later, with Mate as the default translator: press and hold a message, tap Translate, and Mate opens.
• Any iOS version: press and hold the message, tap Copy, then press and hold Mate's Home Screen icon and tap Paste and Translate.

To send a translated reply, write it in Mate and copy the translation, or on iOS 18.4+ type it in Messages, select it, tap Translate, and choose Replace selected text.

Everything here applies to SMS and RCS conversations in Messages as well.