Google Translate broken 'Tap to translate', more steps while switching languages, & more issues leave many disappointed with new update

Google Translate is a free-to-use service developed by Google that enables users to translate text from one language to another. Apart from having a website and mobile apps, it also has an API that helps with third-party software integration.

Currently, the service supports more than 109 languages and uses the Google Neural Machine Translation engine. While some criticize it for its accuracy, millions of people still use the service on a regular basis.

That being said, Google Translate users are now reporting a multitude of issues with the service.

The first one involves the Google Translate app’s Tap to translate button. Many say that the feature broke (1,2,3) after a recent update.

Users have expressed their frustration both on Reddit and the Google Translate app review page. Below are some of the reports shared by Google Translate users affected by the new update.

Tap to Translate no longer works as conveniently and quickly as before. Earlier, we simply had to copy said text and click on the floating Tap to Translate icon to get the translation fast. In the new version, on clicking the floating icon, a window opens where we have to manually paste and then click to translate. It is just going to put off users who used to use this feature quickly before.👎🏻
(Source)

With this new update you’ve ruined a 5 star experience. Tap to translate is broken now, the main app window is so huge that typing 3 sentences means we have to scroll up and down, doesn’t sync with clipboard copy anymore. Don’t ask people to send feedback, use some common sense. How can an update be an experience downgrade? Were you aiming to make translation a pain for users? Because that’s what it feels like now.
(Source)

As it turns out, the Google Translate app button menu is missing. Users said they tried reinstalling the app and changing the region but it did not bring back the button menu.

Users say that the Google Translate app camera is now available only as Google Lens and is missing the scan feature.

I absolutely agree, not only is the lens feature bad and the HUD covers most of the photo and text, but the lack of scan feature makes it impossible to translate anything! Especially if you are working with a magazine or a comic. Did anyone even think to test the ease of use for this feature? If it doesn’t revert, I will be sticking with a new app I am already forced to find.
(Source)

Same. What happened to the scan functionality? I use it a lot to be able to see the original text and the translation together. I don’t want the scanned text replaced with the translation.
(Source)

And last but not the least, Google Translate users are complaining that the new user interface takes a lot of time to switch between two languages.

The latest update is a not an update but rather an example how to ruin an app. The current UI design is really bad. The previous design was user friendly & took less time to move between copy & reverse the language. The new UI takes alot of time to switch between then language or see history of translation. I am not surprised at the bad UI design.
(Source)

Latest update ruined the tap to translate experience ☹️☹️☹️.old version was easy for switch language and the copied text is not even apear in the floating window. Floating window is unnecessarily huge and very complex.i loved the older version
(Source)

Looking at the number of reports and reviews, it seems like the majority of Google Translate users are hating the UI changes the new update brings in.

If you hate the new app UI and are running Android, you can try uninstalling recent updates and revert to an older version. Also, make sure you disable auto-update for Google Translate so it does not install the new update.

We hope Google listens to its user base and reverts these changes since they are making the app difficult to use for many.

Note: We have more such stories in our dedicated Google Section so be sure to follow them as well.

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