How do I translate a product label with my phone camera?
Open your phone's camera AI — Gemini or the ChatGPT camera — aim it directly at the fine print, not the whole product, and ask what it says. You get a plain-language translation of that small text in about five seconds, with no typing it out and no guessing at unfamiliar words.
How to do it
- Open your phone's camera AILaunch Gemini on Android or the camera inside the ChatGPT app. Both can look at what your camera sees and read text back to you.
- Aim at the fine print, not the productFrame the small text itself — the ingredient list or label — close and in focus, rather than a wide shot of the whole bottle.
- Ask what it saysType or speak one question: "What does this say?" Keep it that simple; you're just asking it to describe the text it sees.
- Read the plain-language answerIn about five seconds you get a readable English version of the label. Tap to focus and try again if the first pass looks off.
Questions that come up
What if the label is glossy or the print is too small?
Get closer and tap to focus so the text is sharp before you ask — blur is the main reason it misreads. If a bottle is curved or reflective, angle it to kill the glare, or take a still photo first and ask about that image instead.
Do I need a paid subscription for this?
No. Gemini's camera on Android and the ChatGPT app's camera both read text on their free tiers. You're asking it to describe what it already sees, which is a basic feature, so any current version of either app should handle a label fine.
Does it work for any language?
It handles the widely spoken languages well and returns readable English. Rare scripts or heavily stylised fonts can trip it up, so treat the result as a strong guide rather than a certified translation — for dosages or allergens, double-check anything that really matters.
Full transcript
Point your camera at the fine print and ask what it says. Open Gemini or the ChatGPT camera, and aim it right at the small text — not a wide shot of the bottle. Type the question: what does this say? In about five seconds, the German label comes back in plain English. Next label you can't read — aim at the words.