Transcribe conversations in different languages with Otter – Help Center

Otter supports transcribing audio, video, and meetings into written text in multiple languages, including English (US and UK), French, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese (Simplified), German, Italian, Cantonese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Dutch, Turkish, Vietnamese, and Polish. Select the language spoken in your meeting or recording to generate a transcript and AI-powered meeting notes in that language.

You can change your default transcription language before recording, select a language when importing an audio or video file, or reprocess an existing conversation in another language using Otter on desktop or web.

Note: Changing the transcription language does not translate speech or an existing transcript into another language. The selected language tells Otter which language is spoken in the audio. For example, selecting Japanese transcribes Japanese speech into Japanese text; it does not translate English speech into Japanese.

Change the transcription language on desktop Set the default language for future meetings and recordings

Change your default transcription language in Account Settings to tell Otter which language to use when transcribing future conversations.

Click your profile in the upper-left corner and select Account Settings → General tab. Locate Transcript Language and click the language drop-down.
Search for or select the language spoken in your conversations. Your selection is saved automatically.

Future conversations will be transcribed using your selected default language.

Note: Changing your default language applies to future conversations. Existing conversations are not automatically reprocessed. To change an existing transcript, follow the reprocessing steps below.

Import an audio or video file in another language Choose the transcription language when uploading a file

When importing an audio or video file into Otter on desktop or web, you can select the language spoken in the recording before transcription begins. This lets you transcribe an imported file in a different language without first changing your default account setting.

Note: The selected import language is used for transcription, not translation. Select the language actually spoken in the audio file.

From the Otter homepage, click Import.
Drag and drop your audio or video file into the upload window, or click Browse files to select a file from your device.
Under Select transcript language, open the drop-down and choose the language spoken in the recording.

Note: Changing the transcription language during import will also update your default transcription language for future conversations.
Wait for Otter to upload and transcribe the file. You can monitor the transcription progress and open the conversation when it is ready.

📁 Learn more about importing audio or video files into Otter

Reprocess an existing conversation in another language Generate a new transcript using the language spoken in the audio

If a conversation was transcribed using the wrong language, you can reprocess the original audio in the correct language on desktop or web. Otter will process the recording again to generate a new transcript.

Important: Only the conversation owner can change the transcription language and reprocess a conversation. If the conversation was shared with you, contact the owner and ask them to update the language.

Open the conversation you want to reprocess.
Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the upper-right corner and select Change language.
In the Change language window, open the language drop-down and select the language spoken in the original recording.
Review the information in the window and click Update language.
Otter will begin reprocessing the transcript. A notification and progress indicator will appear while processing is underway.
Once reprocessing is complete, open the conversation to review the updated transcript.

Note: Changing the language also updates your default language for future meetings. Reprocessing depends on the language of the original audio and may take several minutes. If the transcript is already being reprocessed, the new change will apply after the current reprocessing is completed.

Change the transcription language on mobile Set the default language in the Otter mobile app

You can change the default transcription language in the Otter mobile app. This determines which language Otter uses for future recordings and imported files.

Open the Otter mobile app and tap your profile picture in the upper-left corner.
Tap Account Settings.
Under Preferences, tap Conversation language.
Select the language spoken in your future conversations. Tap the back arrow to return to Settings and save your selection.

Your selected language will be used for future transcriptions.

Note: Your default transcription language setting is shared across Otter on web and mobile. Changing it on one device also updates it on the other.

Import an audio or video file on mobile Imported files use your default transcription language

You can import audio or video files using the Otter mobile app. Unlike desktop or web, the mobile import process does not provide a separate language selector. Imported files are transcribed using your current default conversation language.

Before importing, follow the steps to change your default conversation language to match the language spoken in the file.
Return to the Otter homepage and tap Import.
Select the audio or video file you want to import and follow the prompts to upload it.
Otter will transcribe the imported file using your selected default language.

Tip: If you frequently import recordings in different languages, use Otter on desktop or web to select the transcription language directly during each import.

Reprocess an existing conversation on mobile Use desktop or web to change the language of an existing transcript

Reprocessing a conversation in another language is currently unavailable in the Otter mobile app.

To reprocess an existing conversation, sign in to Otter on desktop or web, open the conversation, and follow the steps to reprocess a conversation in another language.

Note: Changing your default language on mobile does not automatically reprocess existing conversations.

What parts of a conversation are transcribed?

When you select a supported transcription language, Otter processes the spoken audio to generate the following conversation content:

Transcript – The spoken audio is converted into written text in the selected language.
AI summaries and action items – Otter can generate meeting notes, summaries, and action items from the conversation.
Otter AI Chat – Ask questions about the conversation and work with its content.

Note: Selecting a transcription language does not change the language of Otter's interface. Settings, menus, and navigation remain in English. Availability and output quality of AI-generated features may vary by language.

Help shape Otter's transcription language support

Help us improve and expand Otter's transcription language support. You can sign up to beta test one of our 14 upcoming languages or request a new language you'd like Otter to support in the future. Your feedback helps us prioritize new languages and improve the transcription experience.

🧪 Beta test an upcoming transcription language Help us test and improve support for 14 upcoming languages

Otter is expanding its transcription language support, and we're inviting users to help test 14 upcoming languages before their general release.

If you're interested in testing one of these languages, complete the beta testing survey to share your interest and help us improve the transcription experience.

🧪 Sign up to beta test an upcoming language

Note: Completing the survey expresses your interest in beta testing. It does not guarantee access to a particular language or the beta program.

🌍 Request a new transcription language Tell us which additional languages you'd like Otter to support

Don't see the language you need? We're continuously exploring opportunities to expand Otter's transcription language support.

Submit a language request to let our team know which languages are important to you. Your feedback helps us understand demand and inform future language support.

🌍 Request a new transcription language

Note: Submitting a language request does not guarantee that the language will be added or establish a release timeline.

FAQs

Can I reprocess an existing conversation on mobile to a new language?

No. Reprocessing a conversation in a different language is currently available only on desktop or web.

What if I recorded a conversation in the wrong language?

If your conversation was transcribed using the wrong language, you can reprocess the original recording in the correct language using Otter on desktop or web.

Open the conversation, select More (⋯) → Change language, choose the language spoken in the audio, and click Update language.

See Reprocess an existing conversation in another language for detailed instructions.

Can I reprocess a conversation shared with me to another language?

No. Only the conversation owner can change the transcription language and reprocess a conversation.

If someone shared the conversation with you, contact the owner and ask them to reprocess the conversation in the correct language .

Does changing the transcription language translate my conversation?

No. Changing the transcription language does not translate speech or an existing transcript into another language.

The selected language tells Otter which language is spoken in the original audio so it can generate a transcript in that language. For example, selecting Spanish transcribes Spanish speech into Spanish text; it does not translate English speech into Spanish.

What languages does Otter support for transcription?

Otter supports transcription in English (US and UK), French, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese (Simplified), German, Italian, Cantonese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Dutch, Turkish, Vietnamese, and Polish.

Some languages are available in beta. Check the language selector in your Otter account for the latest availability.

Will changing the transcription language also change Otter's interface?

No. Changing the transcription language affects how Otter processes spoken audio, not the language used throughout the application.

Otter's settings, navigation, menus, and other interface elements remain in English.

Can I transcribe multiple languages in one conversation?

Otter generally uses the selected transcription language to process a conversation. If you record meetings in different languages, select the appropriate language before recording.

French and English automatic language switching has been supported when French is selected as the default language.

What is the difference between English (US) and English (UK)?

Selecting English (US) or English (UK) helps Otter use spelling conventions commonly associated with that English dialect when transcribing.

You can also add custom vocabulary for names, technical terms, and other words.

Can Otter transcribe French and English simultaneously?

Otter supports automatic switching between French and English when the default transcription language is set to French.

Which Chinese languages are supported for transcription?

Otter's language selector includes Mandarin Chinese (Simplified) and Cantonese. Some options may be in beta.

What happens if I change the language during a meeting?

Changing your default transcription language during an active meeting does not change the language selected when the recording began.

If the transcript was generated using the wrong language, you can reprocess the conversation after recording using desktop or web.

How can I beta test an upcoming transcription language?

If you're interested in helping test one of Otter's 14 upcoming transcription languages, complete our language beta testing survey.

You can also learn more in Beta test an upcoming transcription language.

Submitting the survey does not guarantee participation in the beta program.

How do I request a transcription language that Otter doesn't support?

If your preferred language isn't currently supported, you can submit a request through our new transcription language request survey.

Your feedback helps Otter understand which languages users would like to see supported in the future.

Learn more in Request a new transcription language.

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