Microsoft has introduced a new feature to Teams, enabling professional interpreters to switch between two languages with a single click during live meetings. This bidirectional translation support streamlines multilingual conversations without the need for additional interpreters or devices, and it allows interpreters to better manage non-encrypted Teams meetings without technical complications. When activated, interpreters will see a language selection indicator on their screen to switch between the two languages without interrupting the flow of the meeting.

This update builds on the existing live language interpretation support that Teams has offered since 2022, and crucially, it does not rely on artificial intelligence (AI). According to an article on the Windows Central website, “While many apps, including Teams, support automated translation in various formats, those features are not as accurate as a professional interpreter.”

According to a Microsoft blog post by Teams Program Manager Jan Steberl, “This highly popular feature allows millions of users to access and understand important information in their native language… [It allows] for more efficient real-time translation using just one interpreter, greatly simplifying the process.”

The bidirectional translation feature is available for Windows and macOS users who are part of the Teams Public Preview or Microsoft 365 Targeted release programs, with administrators needing to enable it via their update policy or the Microsoft 365 admin center. The feature is currently in testing among preview users. “Other meeting participants aren’t required to be members of the Teams Public Preview,” Steberl writes.