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WhatsApp Beta gains easy translation and text formatting; see how to use

WhatsApp now translates words, as well as allowing you to change the formatting of the message through the mobile text selector. The news appeared in version 2.17.148 beta - of tests - of the messenger for Android, available for download since last Wednesday (12). The translation feature uses Google Translate to show the meaning of the messages in Portuguese.

In addition, the application has a new way to make changes to text formatting, even though it does not bring unedited writing options. Before, you had to type a few characters at the beginning and end of the message to choose a font style, such as bold and italic. Now, just use the text selector to change the formatting, which makes the task much easier.

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WhatsApp Beta gets translation function and new formatting

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Both functions are available while the user is typing the message. That is, you can not use the translation for a term that your friend sent, for example. To use the new features, check out the next step. Before that, make sure that the version of the application installed on your smartphone is correct.

How to translate a term into WhatsApp

Step 1. To know the translation of a word as you type, simply select it by pressing on it. Tap the three-dot icon to see more options. Then click "Translate."

WhatsApp has the ability to translate words

Step 2. The messenger will automatically display the message translation. You can still click "New translation" to search for the meaning of other terms.

WhatsApp uses Google Translate

The feature is useful when there is any doubt about the meaning of the word you are writing or even to check if the writing is correct. Remember that the contacts that receive the message will not be able to translate the expressions in the same way, because this option only appears when the text is being written.

How to change the formatting of the message in WhatsApp

Step 1. Open the conversation and enter the text. Select the part of the message that you want to change the formatting and touch the three-point icon, as in the previous step. To see all formatting options, scroll down.

Select the word in WhatsApp

Step 2. Choose the formatting you want to use. Note that the messenger will change the text automatically. So just play to send. WhatsApp allows you to change to bold, italic, strikethrough (with a risk over the text) or monospaced (a different font with larger spaces between characters).

Choose the formatting for the message in WhatsApp

The new option to change the formatting of the text offers more agility in the exchange of messages, since it makes it unnecessary to enter the codes referring to each style, as it happened before.

WhatsApp has four styles of text formatting

For now, there is no provision for the update to appear in the official version of the messenger. There is also no date for the arrival of the news on iPhone (iOS) and phones with Windows Phone.

Want access to the new WhatsApp functions? Here's how to install the beta in the video below.