• Pricing
  1. Home
  2. PDF AI
  3. How-To Guides
  4. How to Use AI to Translate a PDF

How to Use AI to Translate a PDF

by David Beníček

Translate your PDFs quickly and accurately with AI—no copying and pasting needed.

Do you need to translate a PDF quickly without spending hours copying and pasting text?

AI tools have made document translation faster and more accurate than ever, especially when working with complex file types like PDFs.

In this article, we’ll explain how to translate your PDF using AI and discuss the best AI for document translation.

Why Use Translate PDF

Manually translating a PDF is time-consuming and error-prone. It often requires copying and pasting text into another tool, which can break formatting or miss key content.

Smallpdf’s Translate PDF tool solves this problem with an AI-powered solution that’s fast, accurate, and effortless to use.

Here’s why it’s a better way to translate your PDFs:

  • Save time and effort: Automatically translate entire PDF documents in seconds, without copying, pasting, or reformatting.
  • Translate into a variety of languages: Smallpdf covers the most commonly used global languages.
  • AI-powered accuracy: The tool leverages AI to provide more natural, context-aware translations than traditional word-for-word tools.
  • Works on any device: Translate PDFs directly from your browser, whether you’re on a laptop, tablet, or phone.

3 Steps to Use Smallpdf’s AI Document Translator for PDFs

Translating a PDF with our tool is simple and only takes a few steps. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Go to the Translate PDF tool and Upload Your File

Navigate to Translate PDF and upload your PDF document. You can do this by clicking “Choose Files” to select a PDF from your device or by dragging and dropping the file into the upload area.

how-to-useai-to-translate-a-docuemnt 1

Wait a few seconds for the upload to complete and for the tool to analyze the file.

Step 2: Choose Between Summary or Entire Document

Once your file is uploaded, you’ll be presented with a screen that asks you if you want an AI-generated summary of the document or if you want the tool to translate the entire document.

how-to-useai-to-translate-a-docuemnt 2

Select “Entire document” for a full translation or “Summary” for a brief overview, and then click the “Translate” button beneath it.

Step 3: Choose Your Language

Wait for the next screen to load, and then click the translation language button in the top right-hand corner. From there, you can select the language you want your PDF translated to from a drop-down menu.

how-to-useai-to-translate-a-docuemnt 3

Wait a few seconds for your PDF file to be translated into your selected language. This version will show on the right-hand side of the screen.

how-to-useai-to-translate-a-docuemnt 4

And, just like that, your AI document translation is complete!

FAQS on AI Document Translation

Is there an AI that can translate a PDF?

Yes, Smallpdf offers an AI-powered tool specifically designed to translate PDFs quickly and accurately. It uses advanced machine learning (ML) to understand context and preserve formatting.

Simply upload your file, choose your desired language, and get a fully translated PDF in seconds. There’s no need to copy and paste text or use separate apps.

Is it okay to translate using AI?

It’s typically acceptable to use AI to translate documents, especially for general understanding, business use, or personal projects.

Modern AI tools, like Smallpdf’s Translate PDF, provide fast and reliable translations with good contextual accuracy.

However, it’s still wise to have a human translator review the final output for highly sensitive or legal documents.

Can I use ChatGPT to translate a PDF?

ChatGPT can be used to translate text from a PDF, but it requires extra steps. First, you’d need to extract the text from the PDF, then paste it into ChatGPT for translation.

Unlike Smallpdf’s Translate PDF tool, ChatGPT doesn’t maintain formatting. For a faster, more seamless experience, Smallpdf is the better choice.

What is the AI tool to translate legal documents?

Smallpdf’s Translate PDF tool is a reliable AI option for translating legal documents. It’s fast, easy to use, and supports a variety of languages.

It’s recommended that a legal professional review the translations for sensitive legal content. However, Smallpdf is an excellent choice for internal use or general understanding.

David Beníček – Product & Engineering Manager
David Beníček
Product & Engineering Manager @Smallpdf