How to Translate a PDF

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A guide to translating PDF documents using Google Translate and DocTranslator

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methods

1Using Google Translate

2Using DocTranslator

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Questions & Answers

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Tips and Warnings

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This How.com.vn teaches you how to translate a PDF file into a different language. You can use a free online application called DocTranslator to do so; if you just need to read the PDF's text in a different language, you can also use Google Translate.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Google Translate

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1. 
   1
   Open Google Translate. Go to https://translate.google.com/ in your computer's web browser.
2. 
   2
   Click the Documents button. You'll see this above the blank text fields on the left side of the page.
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3. 
   3
   Click Browse your computer. This option is in the center of the page. Clicking it opens a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window.
4. 
   4
   Select your PDF. Go to the location in which your PDF is saved, then select your PDF by clicking it.
5. 
   5
   Click Open. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so uploads your PDF to the Google Translate page.
6. 
   6
   Select a translation language. On the right side of the page, click a language, or click

   

   and select a language in the resulting drop-down menu.

   • You can repeat this process for the language on the left panel. However, if you leave this highlighting Detect Language, Google Translate will try to automatically detect the language.
7. 
   7
   Click Translate. You'll find this blue button on the right side of the page. Google will begin translating your PDF into an all-text page.

   • The file that is produced it text-only; any images that were in the original PDF will not appear here.
8. 
   8
   Review your translated PDF. Scroll through the translated PDF's page. While you won't be able to view any images, you should see any text that was in the PDF translated into your specified language.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using DocTranslator

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1. 
   1
   Open the DocTranslator website. Go to https://www.onlinedoctranslator.com/ in your computer's web browser.

   • DocTranslator supports over 104 different languages and can maintain your PDF's original formatting and images upon translation.
2. 
   2
   Click Translate now. It's an orange button in the middle of the page.
3. 
   3
   Click Upload file. This button is in the middle of the page. Doing so opens a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window.
4. 
   4
   Select your PDF. Go to the location in which your PDF is saved, then select your PDF by clicking it.
5. 
   5
   Click Open. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. This will upload your PDF to the DocTranslator website.

   • If you see a warning about PDFs taking longer to format than other documents, just click OK.
6. 
   6
   Select a translation language. Click the second language drop-down box in the bottom-middle of the page, then click the language into which you want to translate your PDF.

   • You can scroll up or down through the available languages if needed.
7. 
   7
   Click Translate. It's an orange button on the right side of the page. Doing so prompts DocTranslator to begin translating your PDF.
8. 
   8
   Wait for your PDF to translate. As noted by DocTranslator, PDFs can take a few minutes to translate due to formatting requirements.
9. 
   9
   Click Download your translated document!. It's a link that appears in the middle of the page once your PDF has been translated. Doing so downloads the translated PDF onto your computer.

   • Depending on your browser's settings, your file may download automatically once it's available.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  How do I translate on my Android phone?

  

  Community Answer

  Just use Chrome/whatever browser (it can be any it only needs to access the internet) and go to translate.google.com.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn

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• Question

  Unfortunately, Google Translate and OnlineDocTranslator are restricted to 10 MB, while deftpdf is restricted to 10,000 characters. Anyone know a real unrestricted online PDF?converter?

  

  Mitchtc

  Community Answer

  If it is only one PDF, FreePDFConvert offers a free trial for an unlimited-size document. It can convert to and from a PDF.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn

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Tips

• Remember that no translation service, save for a professionally contracted (and paid) one, is going to be perfect. Both DocTranslator and Google Translate will likely have some mistakes in their translations.
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Warnings

• Unfortunately, Google Translate won't let you save a copy of a translated PDF. You'll need to use DocTranslator if you want to download your translated PDF.
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