Live Translation on AirPods 4: Which Model Works, and What to Do If Yours Doesn’t
Live Translation works on AirPods 4 with ANC, not standard AirPods 4, AirPods 3 or AirPods 2. How to check your model, and what to do if yours isn’t supported.
On this page
- Do AirPods 4 have Live Translation?
- How to tell which AirPods 4 you have
- What your iPhone needs for Live Translation on AirPods 4
- How to start Live Translation on AirPods 4 with ANC
- AirPods 4 without ANC: how to get live translation anyway
- Live translation on AirPods 3 and AirPods 2
- Built-in option: the Translate app’s Conversation mode
- Which option fits you
- Quick answers
Do AirPods 4 have Live Translation? It depends on which AirPods 4 you own. Apple sold two versions in 2024: AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). They look almost the same, but only one of them works with Apple’s Live Translation.
Below: how to check your model, what your iPhone needs, and what to do if your AirPods 4, AirPods 3 or AirPods 2 are not on Apple’s list. You can still hear translations in your ears with them.
Short answer: Apple’s Live Translation works on AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (model numbers A3055, A3056, A3057). It does not work on the standard AirPods 4 (A3050, A3053, A3054), AirPods 3 or AirPods 2. You also need an iPhone 15 Pro or later with iOS 26 or later and Apple Intelligence turned on. If your AirPods or iPhone are not supported, a third-party app can still play translations in your AirPods on iOS 18 or later.
Do AirPods 4 have Live Translation?
Only the ANC model does. Apple’s support page lists the AirPods that can use it: AirPods 4 (ANC), AirPods 5 (both models), AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2. The standard AirPods 4 are not on that list. Neither are AirPods 3, AirPods 2, the original AirPods Pro or the original AirPods Max.
The two AirPods 4 models look alike, but Apple only lists the ANC model. For the full list across every AirPods model, see our guide to Live Translation on AirPods.
How to tell which AirPods 4 you have
The surest way is the model number. Apple explains how to find it on its Identify your AirPods page:
- Open Settings and tap the name of your AirPods. You can also go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the More Info button (the small “i”) next to your AirPods.
- Look for the model number. It starts with the letter A.
If your AirPods won’t connect, the model number is also printed on the underside of each earbud. Then match it to this table.
| AirPods | Model numbers | Year | Apple’s Live Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation | A3055, A3056, A3057 | 2024 | Yes |
| AirPods 4 (standard, no ANC) | A3050, A3053, A3054 | 2024 | No |
| AirPods 5 (both models) | A3531, A3532, A3533; A3439, A3440, A3441 | 2026 | Yes |
| AirPods 3 | A2564, A2565 | 2021 | No |
| AirPods 2 | A2031, A2032 | 2019 | No |
Quick clues without the model number
- The case. The AirPods 4 (ANC) case has a small speaker on the bottom that plays sounds for charging and battery status, and it charges on Qi-certified and Apple Watch chargers. The standard AirPods 4 case has a USB-C port only.
- Listening modes. Open Control Center, touch and hold the volume control, then tap Listening Mode. If you can choose Noise Cancellation or Transparency, you have the ANC model. Standard AirPods 4 do not have these modes.
What your iPhone needs for Live Translation on AirPods 4
Apple’s feature also has iPhone requirements:
| Requirement | What Apple asks for |
|---|---|
| iPhone | iPhone 15 Pro or later (every iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 model, including iPhone 16e). Not iPhone 15 or 15 Plus. |
| Software | iOS 26 or later |
| Apple Intelligence | Turned on |
| Apps | Apple’s Translate app installed |
| AirPods | Latest firmware |
| Languages | 11: English (US and UK), Spanish (Spain), French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) |
More detail on each iPhone model is in our Live Translation on iPhone guide, and the full language comparison is on our languages page.
How to start Live Translation on AirPods 4 with ANC
If both your AirPods and iPhone qualify:
- Put in your AirPods 4 (ANC) and make sure they are connected.
- Download both languages first, in the Translate app or in Settings under your AirPods’ name.
- Open the Translate app, tap Live, pick the language the other person speaks and the language you want to hear.
- Tap Start Translation. Or press and hold the stem on both AirPods at the same time. You can also say “Siri, start Live Translation.”
If it does not start, our fix guide walks through the common causes. If you own AirPods Pro 2 instead, see Live Translation on AirPods Pro 2.
AirPods 4 without ANC: how to get live translation anyway
If your model number is A3050, A3053 or A3054, Apple’s Live Translation will not run on your AirPods. You can still hear translations in your ears: third-party apps can listen through your iPhone’s microphone and play the translation in any headphones.
Our app, Live Translation on Headphones, was built for this case. It works with every AirPods generation, Beats, and any Bluetooth or wired headphones. It needs an iPhone with iOS 18 or later and does not need Apple Intelligence. The other person speaks, and you hear the translation in your AirPods about a second later while they keep talking.
It also covers some languages Apple’s AirPods feature does not: Turkish, Arabic and Spanish (Mexico). In total it has 14 languages, in any direction. Speech recognition and translation run on the iPhone, and it works offline once a language is downloaded.
Live translation on AirPods 3 and AirPods 2
AirPods 3 and AirPods 2 are not supported by Apple’s Live Translation, even on a new iPhone 17. They are simply not on Apple’s list.
You have two options with these AirPods:
- A third-party app. Our app plays translations in AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 the same way it does in standard AirPods 4. It also runs on older iPhones with iOS 18, like an iPhone 11 to 14.
- Apple’s Translate app, without AirPods. See the next section.
Built-in option: the Translate app’s Conversation mode
Apple’s Translate app has a Conversation mode that does not need supported AirPods. It shows the conversation in chat bubbles and can read translations out loud through the iPhone speaker.
- Open the Translate app and tap Conversation.
- Tap the microphone and say a phrase, or type it.
- Tap the More Options button to turn on Play Translations and Auto Translate, so you don’t have to tap the microphone each time.
- Tap View, then Face to Face, so each person sees the conversation from their own side.
It works for short chats at a counter. But the translation plays out loud or on screen, not privately in your ears.
Which option fits you
| Your setup | Best choice |
|---|---|
| AirPods 4 (ANC) + iPhone 15 Pro or later, and you need one of Apple’s 11 languages | Apple’s Live Translation |
| Standard AirPods 4, AirPods 3 or AirPods 2 | A third-party app, or Translate’s Conversation mode on the speaker |
| Any AirPods + an older iPhone (iPhone 11 to 14, iPhone 15 or 15 Plus) | A third-party app that runs on iOS 18 |
| You need Turkish, Arabic or Mexican Spanish in your ears | A third-party app that supports those languages |
If you have AirPods 4 with ANC and a supported iPhone, use Apple’s feature. For background, read our Apple Live Translation guide.
The app is made by Little Tough LLC, not Apple.
Quick answers
Do AirPods 4 have live translation? Only AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (A3055, A3056, A3057). The standard AirPods 4 (A3050, A3053, A3054) are not supported by Apple’s Live Translation.
Does AirPods 4 without ANC support live translation? Not Apple’s feature. You can still hear translations in them with a third-party app that plays the translation through any headphones.
Do AirPods 3 have live translation? No. AirPods 3 are not on Apple’s supported list. A third-party app or the Translate app’s Conversation mode are the options.
Do AirPods 2 have live translation? Not Apple’s feature. Apps that work with any Bluetooth headphones can play translations in them.
Which iPhone do I need for Live Translation on AirPods 4 with ANC? An iPhone 15 Pro or later with iOS 26 or later, Apple Intelligence turned on, and the Translate app installed.
How do I know if my AirPods 4 have ANC? Check the model number in Settings by tapping your AirPods’ name. A3055, A3056 and A3057 are the ANC model.
Sources: Apple Support: Use Live Translation with your AirPods, Apple Support: Identify your AirPods, Apple: iOS Feature Availability, Apple iPhone User Guide: Translate in-person conversations, Apple AirPods User Guide: Switch between noise control modes, App Store: Live Translation on Headphones.
