Tolki Support

Requirements

Which iOS version does Tolki require?

Tolki requires iOS 26 or later. The Apple Translation Framework that Tolki uses for offline translation is only available from iOS 26 onwards.

Do I need an internet connection?

No — Tolki works entirely offline. An internet connection is only needed once to download language packs for Apple Translation and optionally to download Piper voice models within the app.

Translation

Which languages are supported?

Tolki currently supports 19 languages: German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Vietnamese, Hindi, Danish, Swedish, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian Bokmål, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Chinese. All languages are available for offline translation. 13 languages include natural Piper voices; the others use Apple's local voices.

Translation fails — what should I do?

Check two things: When using a language pair for the first time, Tolki automatically downloads the required Apple translation models — this needs an internet connection once. For speech output, you can also download a Piper voice: Voice menu (top right) → download the desired voice. If no Piper voice is available, Tolki uses Apple's local voice.

Speech recognition doesn't understand me well.

Speak clearly and hold your iPhone about 20–30 cm from your mouth. In noisy environments, it helps to increase the silence threshold using the slider so that Tolki doesn't cut off too early.

Piper voices

How do I download a Piper voice?

Open the voice menu in Tolki (icon in the top right). Tap Download next to the desired voice. Files are 60–115 MB and are downloaded once.

The app crashes when loading a voice.

Tolki has a built-in crash guard. On the next launch, the faulty model is automatically removed. Try loading a different voice afterwards, or delete all voices via the voice menu and download again.

AirPods & hearing aids

What is AirPods Mode?

When AirPods or a Bluetooth headset are connected, Tolki automatically switches to fully automatic mode: The iPhone sits between both speakers and picks up both voices via its built-in microphone. You hear your translation privately through AirPods or hearing aids; the guest's translation plays through the iPhone speaker. No button press needed.

Are hearing aids supported?

Yes — Tolki recognizes MFi hearing aids (Made for iPhone), Bluetooth LE hearing aids (ASHA), and standard Bluetooth devices. The translation plays privately through the hearing aid, while the iPhone microphone picks up both speakers — just like AirPods Mode.

Tolki doesn't detect my AirPods.

Connect your AirPods before launching the app or shortly after opening it. iOS needs about 1–2 seconds to update the audio route. If detection still fails, fully close the app and reopen it.

Chat Mode

How does Chat Mode work?

Chat Mode connects two iPhones directly. Each person speaks into their own device; Tolki translates and shows the conversation in each person's language. The connection is local, without an account and without the cloud.

Why do I need to hold the button while speaking?

Chat Mode works like a walkie-talkie: while one person speaks, they hold the microphone button. This prevents both devices from recording at the same time and interfering with each other.

Contact

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