Hermes Translate is a real-time peer-to-peer translation app for iOS. Two people can have a conversation across language barriers using Bluetooth or local WiFi — no internet required.
Why does the app need microphone and speech recognition permissions? Hermes listens to your voice to transcribe it for translation. These permissions are only used while you are actively speaking.
Why does the app need Bluetooth / local network access? Hermes connects directly with nearby devices over Bluetooth or WiFi using Apple's MultipeerConnectivity framework. No data is sent to external servers.
Does Hermes work without an internet connection? Yes. Speech recognition and translation both run fully on-device using Apple's frameworks. An internet connection is not required.
Which languages are supported? Hermes supports all languages available in Apple's on-device Translation framework (iOS 18+). The first time you use a language pair, iOS may prompt you to download the language model.
Why does the app require iOS 18 or later? The on-device Translation framework was introduced at WWDC 2024 and requires iOS 18+.
Two devices are required for peer-to-peer mode. What if I only have one device? Use the built-in Local or Bidirectional mode on a single device — one person speaks into the top half of the screen, the other speaks into the bottom half.
The translation isn't showing up. What should I do?
- Make sure both microphone and speech recognition permissions are granted in Settings → Privacy.
- Check that both devices are on the same WiFi network or have Bluetooth enabled.
- Try selecting your language again in the language picker to trigger a model download if needed.
For bug reports or feature requests, please email: support@reidchatham.com