Want to switch up the language Otter.ai uses for your transcriptions? You've come to the right place! While Otter.ai is primarily known for its excellent English transcription, it has expanded its capabilities. This comprehensive guide will walk you through exactly how to change the transcription language in Otter.ai, ensuring your meetings and conversations are captured accurately in your preferred supported language.
Understanding Otter.ai's Language Capabilities
Before we dive into the "how-to," it's crucial to understand what Otter.ai currently supports. As of now, Otter.ai can transcribe conversations in:
English (US)
British English (UK)
Spanish
French
Important Note: While Otter.ai can transcribe in these languages, its user interface (UI) – meaning the menus, settings, and navigation within the app or website – will remain in English. The language change only affects the transcription of your conversations, not the display language of the Otter.ai platform itself.
Also, it's vital to remember that Otter.ai currently offers transcription, not translation. This means that the speakers in your meeting or recording need to be speaking the language you've set for transcription for Otter.ai to accurately capture it. Otter.ai cannot transcribe a conversation in one language and then translate it into another simultaneously.
 |
| How To Change Language In Otter Ai |
Step 1: Let's Get Started! (Web Version)
So, you're ready to switch languages in Otter.ai? Fantastic! We'll begin with the web version, as it offers the most comprehensive options.
Sub-heading: Accessing Your Account Settings
Tip: Read carefully — skimming skips meaning.
The first step is always to navigate to your account settings, where all the magic happens.
Open your web browser: Launch your preferred web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, etc.) and go to the Otter.ai website.
Sign in to your Otter.ai account: If you're not already logged in, enter your credentials to access your dashboard.
Locate your Profile Icon: Once logged in, look for your profile icon in the upper left corner of the screen. This is typically a circle with your initial or profile picture.
Click to expand the menu: Click on your profile icon to open a dropdown menu.
Select "Account Settings": From the expanded menu, click on "Account Settings." This will take you to a new page where you can manage various aspects of your Otter.ai account.
Step 2: Navigating to Language Preferences
Now that you're in your account settings, it's time to find the language selection.
Sub-heading: Finding the Language Drop-down
The language option is usually straightforward to locate.
General Settings Tab: Within the Account Settings page, you should see a few tabs or sections. Look for a section labeled "General" or similar. This is where most basic account preferences are located.
Locate "Language": On the right side of the "General" settings, you will find an option labeled "Language" with a dropdown menu next to it.
Click the Dropdown: Click on the dropdown menu next to "Language." This will reveal the list of supported transcription languages.
Step 3: Selecting Your Desired Transcription Language
This is the moment of truth! Choose the language you want Otter.ai to use for your future transcriptions.
Tip: Read actively — ask yourself questions as you go.
Sub-heading: Making Your Selection
Carefully choose from the available options.
Review Available Languages: The dropdown menu will display the languages Otter.ai currently supports for transcription: English (US), British English (UK), Spanish, and French.
Select Your Language: Click on the language you wish to set as your default for transcriptions. For example, if you want your conversations transcribed in Spanish, select "Spanish." If you prefer British English, select "British English (UK)."
Automatic Saving: In most cases, Otter.ai will automatically save your selection once you've clicked on it. You might see a small confirmation message appear briefly. There's no separate "Save" button for this particular setting.
Important Tip: Once you select a language, Otter will transcribe all future conversations in that language going forward. If you have meetings or recordings with different languages, you will need to select the associated language before the meeting or recording begins. There is currently no way to reprocess a conversation in a different language after it has been recorded and transcribed.
Step 4: Changing Language on the Mobile App
If you primarily use Otter.ai on your mobile device (iOS or Android), the process is slightly different but just as easy!
 |
Sub-heading: Mobile App Language Settings
The steps for changing language on the mobile app are similar across both iOS and Android.
Open the Otter Mobile App: Tap on the Otter.ai app icon on your smartphone or tablet.
Tap the Menu Icon: In the upper left corner of the app screen, you'll find a menu icon (often three horizontal lines, sometimes called a "hamburger icon"). Tap this to open the main navigation menu.
Tap Your Profile: Within the menu that appears, tap on your profile picture or name at the top. This will open your personal settings.
Select "Conversation Language": Look for an option labeled "Conversation Language" and tap on it.
Choose Your Language: A list of supported languages will appear. Select your desired transcription language.
Save Your Selection: After making your choice, tap the back icon (usually an arrow pointing left) to save your selection.
Note for Mobile Users: As of recent updates, the British English (UK) setting might not yet be available on the mobile app. If you need this specific dialect, you might need to use the web browser version to change it for now. Always check your app store for the latest updates.
Tip: Note one practical point from this post.
Step 5: Verifying Your Language Change
It's always a good idea to confirm your settings to ensure everything is as you expect.
Sub-heading: Testing the New Setting
A quick test can give you peace of mind.
Start a new recording: Initiate a new meeting or simply record a short audio clip using Otter.ai.
Speak in the chosen language: Ensure that during this recording, you are speaking in the language you just selected (e.g., Spanish if you chose Spanish).
Review the transcript: Once the recording is processed, open the transcript. You should see the transcription accurately reflecting the language you selected in your settings.
Important Considerations & Limitations
Transcription vs. Translation: Again, Otter.ai transcribes what is spoken in the chosen language; it does not translate it. If a meeting has speakers in multiple languages, Otter.ai will only attempt to transcribe in the single language you have set as default.
User Interface Language: The Otter.ai user interface (menus, settings, etc.) will remain in English, regardless of the transcription language you select.
Changing During a Recording: If you change the language setting during a live recording, it will not change the language for that ongoing recording. The conversation will continue to be processed in the language that was set at the start of the recording.
Reprocessing Old Conversations: Currently, there is no way to reprocess a previously recorded conversation into a different language. The language is set at the time of recording.
Accent Handling: Otter.ai is designed to handle a variety of accents within its supported languages. For example, for English, it can understand various regional accents.
Future Updates: Otter.ai is continuously working on expanding its language support and improving its features. Stay tuned for future announcements regarding more languages or multi-language transcription capabilities.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Tip: Don’t skim past key examples.
Here are some frequently asked questions about changing languages in Otter.ai, with quick answers:
How to know which languages Otter.ai supports for transcription? Otter.ai currently supports English (US), British English (UK), Spanish, and French for transcription.
How to change the default transcription language in Otter.ai? You can change the default transcription language in your Account Settings (web) or Profile settings (mobile app) by selecting it from the "Language" or "Conversation Language" dropdown.
How to set Otter.ai to transcribe in Spanish? Go to your Account Settings (web) or Profile settings (mobile), find "Language" or "Conversation Language," and select "Spanish" from the dropdown.
How to make Otter.ai understand British English? In your Account Settings (web) or Profile settings (mobile), choose "British English (UK)" from the language options. Note that this specific option might not yet be available on the mobile app.
How to transcribe a meeting with both English and French speakers in Otter.ai? Otter.ai can only transcribe in one language at a time. You'll need to choose either English or French before the meeting, and it will transcribe only in that selected language.
How to reprocess an existing Otter.ai transcript in a different language? Currently, you cannot reprocess a conversation in a different language after it has been recorded and transcribed. The language is set at the start of the recording.
How to tell if my Otter.ai UI will change languages too? No, changing the transcription language in Otter.ai only affects the transcription processing. The user interface (menus, settings) will remain in English.
How to improve Otter.ai's transcription accuracy in a specific language? Ensure you've selected the correct language for transcription, minimize background noise, speak clearly, and consider adding custom vocabulary for unique terms or names.
How to know if Otter.ai will support more languages in the future? Otter.ai has indicated that they plan to introduce additional language support throughout 2025 and beyond. Stay tuned to their official announcements.
How to get a translation of my Otter.ai transcript? Otter.ai does not offer built-in translation. You would need to export the transcript and use a separate translation service or tool to translate it into another language. Some users have found workarounds using AI tools like ChatGPT for translation.
 |
