Fix: Google Translate not Working

Google Translate may not work due to a variety of different reasons because the cases of the translation engine not working are very diverse and vary from case to case. This problem is common when using the mobile app, whereas other users encounter it in their browser or browser extension. When a user tries to translate, he gets the message of This Page Could Not Be Translated.

If there is a genuine case where the translation is of illegal characters, you will not be able to work around that. Try translating meaningful words and sentences. Moreover, if you are using a VPN, then disable it, and then try to translate the text.

For Browsers:

The following solutions can be applied to browsers of any build. However, we will be only using the stable release of Google Chrome for illustration purposes.

Solution 1: Update Your Browser

Browsers are continuously updated to satiate the latest technological advancements. If you are using an older version of the browser, which is not compatible with the translation mechanism of Google Translate, then it can be the root cause of the issue at hand. In this context, updating your browser may rectify the problem. For elucidation, we will discuss the process for Chrome.

1. Launch the Chrome browser and click on the vertical ellipsis (3 vertical dots) near the top right corner of the window and then click on Settings.

   

2. Then in the left pane of the window, click on About Chrome.

   

3. Now click on Check for Updates.
4. After updating Chrome, open Google Translate, and check if it is operating fine.

Solution 2: Disable Browser Extensions or Try Incognito Mode

Extensions are used to enhance the functionality of a browser. However, if any of these are interfering with the translation mechanism of Google Translate, then it can stop it from working correctly. In the given circumstances, disabling browser extensions or using InPrivate/Incognito mode of your browser may solve the problem. This will help us identify any third-party problems interfering with Google Translate.

1. Launch Chrome and click on the vertical ellipsis in the top right corner. Then in the menu displayed, click on More Tools and then click on Extensions.

   

2. Now disable all the extensions by toggling the respective switch of each extension to Off. Wikipedia extension is known to create this type of issue.

   

3. Then check if Google Translate has started to operate fine. If so, then enable the extensions one by one to find the culprit.

Solution 3: Deleting Cookies and Site Data

Cookies are used by browsers to store server/client communication details. Also, browsers use cache for smoother user experience and to boost up performance. However. if the cookies or cache in your browser are corrupt, then Google Translate may fail to translate the text. Do note that performing this solution will erase all the history and preferences.

1. Launch Chrome and click on the vertical ellipsis (3 vertical dots). Then click on More Tools, and in the sub-menu, click on Clear Browsing Data.
2. Now, in the Advanced tab, select the Time Range (preferably All-Time) and then select categories you want to clear (preferably all the categories).
3. Now click on the Clear Data button and then confirm to clear the data.

   

4. Then open Google Translate and check if it has started to work fine.

Solution 4: Reset Browser Settings to Default

Every Chrome user changes the browser settings as per his requirement. But if a setting essential for the translation engine of Google Translate is misconfigured, then Google Translate may fail to translate the text. In this scenario, resetting the browser settings to defaults may solve the problem.

1. Launch the Chrome browser and click on the vertical ellipsis in the top right corner of the window. Then in the displayed menu, click on Settings.
2. Now in the left pane of the window, expand the Advanced option and then click on Reset and Clean Up.

   

3. Now click on the option of Reset Settings to their Original Defaults.

   

4. Then check if Google Translate has started to work fine.

Solution 5: Try Another Browser

Every browser, like any other software application, has its share of software bugs. The Google Translate issue you are facing could be due to a temporary glitch in your browser. In this case, trying Google Translate in another browser may solve the problem.

1. Launch another web browser (if not installed, then download and install one).
2. Now open Google Translate to check if it is operating fine. If it is, make sure that the affected browser is updated to the latest build.

Solution 6: Use Chrome Extension

Google Translate has an extension/addon for nearly all the major browsers. If the Google Translate website is not working for you, then using the extension/add-on for the browser may solve the problem. Both the modules return the same results as they are fetching from the same API.

1. Launch Chrome and navigate to the Google Translate extension page in Chrome Web Store.
2. Now click on Add to Chrome, and then in the dialogue box shown, click Add Extension.

   

   To use it the extension, click on the Google Translate icon on the right of the address bar and enter the text to be translated. If you want to translate the current page, click on Translate this page.

   

Solution 7: Enabling Automatic Source Language Detection

If the page you are trying to translate has multiple languages in it and the source language in the From box is not set to Detect Language, then the Google Translate may fail to translate the text. In this scenario, enabling the automatic feature will ensure that no wrong fields are selected.

1. Try to translate the page/text in Google Translate you were having issues with.
2. Then in the dropdown box of From, select “Detect Language” and check if the problem is sorted.

   

3. If the automatic detection doesn’t work, you can try setting the source language manually using the drop-down and see if this does the trick.

For Android:

The following solutions can be used on any Android version or make. Make sure that you are logged in with your Google account before proceeding.

Solution 1: Clear Cache and Data of the Google Mobile App

Like any other mobile app, Google Translate uses a cache to boost up speed and improve the user experience. If the app cache has corrupt data, then it may not work correctly. In this scenario, clearing the cache and data of the mobile application may solve the issue. For elucidation, we will discuss the process for Android.

1. Open Settings of your Android phone and tap on Apps/Application Manager after existing Google or Google Translate.

   

2. Now location and tap on the Translate application.

   

3. Then tap on Force Stop and, when prompted, confirm to stop the application.
4. Now tap on Storage and then tap on the Clear Cache button.

   

5. Now tap on the Clear Data button and then confirm to clear the data.

   

6. Then launch the Translate app and check if it has started to operate fine. You may have to re-download offline languages.

Solution 2: Reinstalling the Translate Application

If clearing the cache and data has not helped you, then the installation of the Google Translation application may itself be corrupt. In this case, reinstalling the application may solve the problem as it will fetch fresh files from the servers and replace corrupt ones.

1. Follow all the steps of Solution 1 (discussed just above this solution) to Force Stop the app and clear its Cache/Data.
2. Open Settings of your phone and tap on Applications/Application Manager.
3. Now tap on Google Translate.
4. Select Uninstall and then confirm to uninstall the app.

   

5. After uninstalling, restart your device.
6. Upon restart, re-install the Google Translate app and check if it is clear of the error.

If you are still having issues, then you can try another service like Yandex or Microsoft Bing translator, etc.