microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys

Language translation Tools

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#46,491 0 comments 2 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
Idea-Enhancement Needs-Triage Product-Advanced Paste
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C
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Description

### Description of the new feature / enhancement

Windows should have more multi-language tools built into the platform (not just into the browser).

**TYPE + TRANSLATE**
Quickly being able to write something in one language and then instantly translate (+paste) the content in a new language would be ideal. _NOTE: This function is already built into the SWIFTKEY keyboard for iOS._

The ideal location for such a tool is in the same context window that appears when you press WIN+V for the clipboard or WIN+. for the Emoji keyboard, etc. Inserting a TRANSLATION tool like in SWIFTKEY would be a game-changer for those of us who interact in multiple languages.

**SELECT+TRANSLATE**
Although the ability to translate text from one language to another exists in EDGE (RightClick -> Translate to English), Windows is missing this ability universally across all applications and Windows. We should be able to highlight any text and/or right-click on any element to translate it into a selected language. This is a function of iOS - for example, allowing the user to highlight a message in WhatsApp -> long press -> translate - this produces a pop-up window with the original and translated text.

### Scenario when this would be used?

There are many uses for system-native translation functions, specifically when interacting with apps and documents that have different languages. For example, chatting and conversations inside of WhatsAll. Reading a PDF document that is in another language. Typing a multi-language response email (ie. English/Italian) in Outlook, editing a non-native language document in MS Word. For those of use that interact on a global scale, Windows could do a lot more to make multi-language interactions easier and more fluid. It's an area where some POWERTOOLS would be grately appreciated.

### Supporting information

https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/swiftkey-keyboard/how-to-use-microsoft-translator-with-your-microsoft-swiftkey-keyboard

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

No files, tests, or entry points are named. Start by reviewing the proposed WIN+V and WIN+. context surfaces and the linked SwiftKey Translator reference, then determine how system-wide selected-text translation would fit PowerToys. Done should cover both translating typed text for insertion and translating selected text across applications, with clear language-selection behavior.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
desktop, internationalization, localization, operating-systems
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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