Real-time translation for FaceTime calls
Updated 2026-07-26
To translate a FaceTime call live, take the call on your Mac with Tingdong running: what they say becomes bilingual captions in real time, and with Call Translation on, what you say reaches them as a translated voice. It works in group FaceTime, auto-detects 60 languages, and the people on the other side install nothing.
How to set it up
- 1Open Tingdong and pick “Call Translation”
The app readies the Tingdong Microphone and walks you through with pictures.
- 2In FaceTime, choose “Tingdong Microphone” as your mic
That one menu choice is the whole setup — the same route works for Zoom, WhatsApp and WeChat calls.
- 3Talk
They hear your voice plus a translated voice; you read live bilingual captions of everything they say. Only reading along? “Live Listen” captions the call without touching your mic.
Why most caption tools go silent on calls
FaceTime and phone-call audio is rendered by a windowless system process, not by a normal app window — so tools built on screen capture simply never hear it. Tingdong ships a dedicated system-audio tap built for calls, which is why the same app that captions YouTube also captions a live FaceTime conversation. Apple’s own Live Translation is the built-in alternative: free and on-device, but one-on-one calls only, a handful of languages, and captions rather than a translated voice.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from Apple’s built-in Live Translation?
Apple’s Live Translation (iOS 26) is free and runs on-device — use it if it fits. It covers one-on-one calls on recent iPhones in roughly nine languages, translating in turns. Tingdong covers group FaceTime, 60 auto-detected languages, continuous simultaneous pacing, a translated voice in both directions, and the same app captions your meetings and videos.
Does it work in group FaceTime calls?
Yes. Tingdong translates the call audio your Mac plays, so it doesn’t care how many people are on the call or which languages they switch between — every speaker gets captioned and language switches are auto-detected mid-call.
Do the other people need anything?
Nothing. They FaceTime you normally and hear your original voice plus a translated voice. Everything runs on your Mac.
What about WhatsApp, WeChat or Zoom calls?
Same single route: pick “Tingdong Microphone” in the app’s mic menu. Any app where you can choose a microphone gets two-way live interpretation.
Try it on your next video, meeting or call
Download free for macOS100 trial credits on install · No signup, no credit card