Choose Microsoft Edge to translate selected passages while you read a PDF; choose Google Translate when you want to translate a supported PDF as a whole and view or download the translated document. Neither workflow is established as more accurate or better at preserving layout: the available product documentation describes features and limits, not a controlled comparison.
Which tool fits your PDF task?
| Your task | Best-documented fit | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Understand a sentence or passage without leaving the PDF | Microsoft Edge | Translate selected text in a side pane. Edge advertises support for over 70 languages, though availability varies by device, market, and browser version. |
| Translate a supported PDF as a whole and get translated output | Google Translate | Use the desktop Documents workflow to translate, view, or download a PDF within its 10 MB and 300-page limits. |
| Translate a PDF on a phone or small screen | Neither is fully established | Google says document translation is unavailable on mobile and smaller screens. Microsoft says Edge PDF translation availability and functionality vary by device, market, and browser version. |
| Translate a scanned or image-only PDF | Neither is established as a complete solution | Google says scanned-page and image text is not translated. Edge’s documented method requires selectable text; its documentation does not establish OCR as part of the workflow. |
How to translate selected PDF text in Microsoft Edge
- Open the PDF in Microsoft Edge.
- Select the text you want to understand, then choose the Translate icon in the PDF toolbar. Microsoft also documents translation of selected PDF text through the right-click context menu when its integrated translation service is enabled.
- Read the translation in the side pane. Edge also says translated text can be read aloud or copied.
Microsoft’s Edge PDF reader documentation describes translating selected text in a side pane, not producing a complete translated PDF file. It advertises over 70 languages; Microsoft cautions that availability and functionality can differ by device type, market, and browser version. The TranslateEnabled policy documentation confirms the toolbar and right-click routes for selected text.
How to translate a PDF with Google Translate
- On a desktop, open Google Translate’s document translation page and choose Documents.
- Select the source and target languages, or use language detection where available.
- Upload the PDF and choose the translation option.
- View the translated result or download the translated document.
Google’s Help page supports PDF, DOCX, PPTX, and XLSX documents; files can be up to 10 MB, and PDFs must be 300 pages or fewer. Google says this document workflow is not available on mobile or smaller screens.
What if the PDF is scanned?
A scanned PDF may contain page images rather than selectable text. Google warns that text in images and scanned PDF pages may appear in the output document but is not translated. Edge’s described selection-based workflow also depends on text you can select, and its documentation does not establish image OCR as part of PDF translation. If the words cannot be selected, OCR may be needed to turn the page images into text before translation; neither cited workflow is documented here as providing that step.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
![Free Fling File Transfer Software for Windows [PC Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Vq6ZqHfjL._SL160_.jpg)
- Intuitive interface of a conventional FTP client
- Easy and Reliable FTP Site Maintenance.
- FTP Automation and Synchronization
Does one produce a more accurate or better-formatted translation?
The cited Microsoft and Google documentation does not establish that either service translates more accurately, preserves PDF layout better, translates more completely, or works faster. Microsoft’s language count is a vendor-stated feature, not a quality measure. The documented difference is the task each workflow supports: selected passages in Edge versus a desktop whole-document workflow in Google Translate.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #2
![Express Schedule Free Employee Scheduling Software [PC/Mac Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41yvuCFIVfS._SL160_.jpg)
- Simple shift planning via an easy drag & drop interface
- Add time-off, sick leave, break entries and holidays
- Email schedules directly to your employees
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
