Microsoft Edge will soon translate videos in real-time

Microsoft Edge icon in Windows 11 Start menu
(Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

  • Real-time video translation is on the way to Microsoft Edge.
  • A button for enabling video translation first appeared a few weeks ago, but it does not work yet.
  • Based on the dropdown menu that now appears, real-time translation will support English, French, Spanish, and Russian to start.

Video content is king when it comes to the web. Soon, Microsoft Edge will translate videos in real time at the push of a button. The feature, first spotted by Leo Varela, will soon be in testing among Canary Channel Insiders. Insiders will be able to translate videos into four languages, English, French, Spanish, and Russian.

A button to enable real-time translation first appeared for Canary Channel Insiders a few weeks ago, though it didn't do anything at the time. Now, testers see a dropdown menu to pick a language for real-time translation. That menu, however, does not let you actually enable the feature.

We'll likely have a better idea of how the feature works in the near future.

Microsoft has been in the translation business for years. Skype began testing real-time translation in 2015. Microsoft has improved translation tech steadily over the years, including TruVoice real-time translation, which makes the translated words sound like the original speaker rather than a machine.

Unfortunately for those hoping to hear the Windows Central Podcast, MrBeast, and other YouTube personalities in various languages, the real-time translation that's on the way to Edge is text-only. The experience will be similar to watching a video with subtitles on, but those subtitles will be in your language of choice.

Microsoft Edge | Free

Microsoft Edge | Free

Microsoft Edge is the default browser on Windows. It's based on Chromium, so it's compatible with the vast majority of the web. There are several Insider versions of the browser, allowing you to test new features and provide feedback to Microsoft.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.