AirPods Live Translation: Does the Other Person Need AirPods?
Their words arrive in your language through your AirPods, and now it's your turn to reply. How does the person across the table, with no earbuds, understand you?
- The other person can read or hear your translated reply on your iPhone without owning AirPods.
- AirPods Pro 2 qualify, but the paired iPhone must support Apple Intelligence.
- Download both conversation languages before starting; Korean is among the supported languages.
One pair is enough for an in-person conversation
The person you are speaking with does not need AirPods. Apple's Live Translation instructions provide a second route for your reply: show the translated text in the iPhone's Translate app, or tap Play to use its speaker.
Incoming speech reaches your earbuds in your chosen language. Your outgoing answer can reach the other person through the phone. Hearing their words successfully does not mean your reply is automatically being broadcast to them.
Before starting, choose whether the other person will read the phone or listen to its speaker. That small decision makes the two directions of the conversation easier to manage.
AirPods Pro 2 qualify; a regular iPhone 15 does not
You do not need to replace AirPods Pro 2 with Pro 3 for this feature. Check the phone first: Apple's Intelligence device requirements include iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, plus iPhone 16 models and later, among other eligible devices. The regular iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are excluded.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| AirPods | AirPods 4 with ANC, either AirPods 5 model, Pro 2, Pro 3 or Max 2. |
| iPhone | An Apple Intelligence-capable model. |
| Software | The feature requires iOS 26 or later; use current iOS and AirPods firmware. |
| Apps and AI | Apple's Translate app and available Apple Intelligence. |
The AirPods guide specifies the ANC version of AirPods 4. A matching generation number is not enough. Similarly, being able to install a recent iOS version does not establish that the phone supports Apple Intelligence.
Download both sides of the conversation
Apple's AirPods-specific language list includes Korean, Japanese, US and UK English, French and German, among others. Check that section rather than assuming every Apple Intelligence language works with every translation feature.
- Wear the AirPods and connect them to the iPhone.
- In Settings, select the AirPods and open Live Translation (Beta) to download the languages.
- Open Translate → Live and select Their Language and Your Language.
- Tap Start Translation.
A Korean–Japanese conversation needs both language downloads. Processing then happens on the iPhone; the earbuds are not a standalone translator.
If the feature is missing, check the phone's AI eligibility, software, device and Siri languages, and regional requirements. Apple currently restricts Intelligence on devices purchased in China mainland.
Two equipped participants can each listen privately
If both people have compatible AirPods and iPhones, each can set up and start Live Translation to hear the conversation through their own pair. Each participant needs a working setup.
For a noisy setting, Apple suggests using the iPhone microphone to improve input. Moving the phone closer to the speaker is an available adjustment.
Before a trip, prepare the devices and languages, then practice both directions once: listening through the earbuds and playing a reply on the phone. With one pair, knowing where the answer comes out matters as much as starting translation.