How to translate a PDF with Google Translate

Google Translate can translate a PDF in your browser without installing software. Check the file first, because large documents and scanned pages have limits.

This follows Google's documented PDF workflow. The document screenshots use a fictional French checklist, with English selected as the target language. Only upload files you are comfortable sending to Google.

1. Check the file limits

Use a laptop or desktop computer. Google does not offer document translation on mobile or smaller screens.

Your PDF must be no larger than 10 MB and contain no more than 300 pages. Text inside images and scanned pages can remain in the output without being translated.

2. Choose the languages

1. Open Google Translate (opens in a new tab) and click Documents.
2. Choose the PDF's language on the left and the language you want on the right. Use the down arrows for more languages, or Detect language if you are unsure of the original language.

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Google Translate Documents with French and English selected

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3. Select your PDF

1. Click Browse your files. Google's help calls this Browse your computer.
2. In the file window, find your PDF, select it and click Open.

The file name appears on the page. Check it before continuing. If you selected the wrong file, click the X beside its name and choose again.

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Sample PDF selected in Google Translate, ready to translate

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4. Translate the document

Click Translate and keep the page open. Wait for the Download translation button to appear.

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Google Translate displaying Download translation and Open translation

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5. Save and check the result

1. Click Download translation to save the translated PDF.
2. Open the downloaded file and compare it with the original. Check names, dates, numbers and any instructions you will act on. Ask someone who understands both languages to check anything important.

Keep the original file so you can refer back to its wording.

If some text stays untranslated

A scanned page is a picture of text. Google's document tool leaves text in images and scanned PDF pages untranslated. If you already have a clear image of the page, open the Images tab, choose the languages and upload that image. Google's image-translation instructions describe this alternative. Small, unclear or stylised text can reduce accuracy.

For an existing JPG, PNG or WebP page image:

1. Open Google Translate and select Images. Choose the source and target languages.
2. Select Browse your files and choose the page image. Wait for the translated preview.
3. Turn on Show original to compare both sides. Check every line, especially names, numbers and instructions.

This translates one image, not the whole PDF. Google's image-translation instructions (opens in a new tab) describe Copy text and Download translation for keeping the result. Reopen anything you save and check it before use.

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Google Translate Images showing a fictional French workshop note beside its English preview, with Show original enabled.

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Google Translate Images with our fictional French workshop note and its English preview. Show original is on.

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Sources

Sources: Google's document translation instructions (opens in a new tab), Google's image translation instructions (opens in a new tab) and the current Google Translate interface (opens in a new tab).