Group Rooms overview Coming soon

Last updated October 1, 2026 For: Small group leaders, ministry teams and hosts of multilingual gatherings

On this page

Group Rooms are a planned way for a small group of people who speak different languages to talk with each other. Everyone uses their own phone and earbuds. Each person speaks their own language and hears everyone else translated into it.

Who it's for#

A sermon translation device works one way: one speaker, many listeners. Group Rooms are planned for conversations where everyone talks:

  • Small groups and Bible studies with members who speak different languages.
  • Prayer teams, welcome teams and volunteers meeting with newcomers.
  • Ministry and mission team meetings across languages.
  • Any table where people want to talk naturally without a human interpreter.

How it is planned to work#

  1. A host creates a room on their phone and shows a QR code.
  2. Everyone else scans the QR code, enters their name and picks the language they speak.
  3. Everyone puts in earbuds.
  4. People just talk. There is no button to hold while speaking.
  5. Each person hears the others in their own language, and sees a chat-style transcript on their screen.

When two people talk at the same time, each person is planned to get their own message instead of a jumbled one.

Before you start (planned)#

  • A phone for each person, with a current browser (Safari on iPhone or Chrome on Android). Nothing to install.
  • Earbuds or headphones for everyone. Translations play in your ears, and earbuds keep them from being picked up by the other phones.
  • An internet connection on each phone.
  • A SermonWave account is not planned to be needed to join a room.

Step 1 — Start a room (planned)#

  1. On your phone, open the planned room page at sermonwave.com/room.
  2. On Start a group room, fill in Your name and The language you speak.
  3. Optionally add a Room name (optional), such as "Small group".
  4. Tap Create room.
  5. Tap Invite to show the QR code and the share link to the group.
Group Room create screen with Your name, The language you speak and Create room

Step 2 — Join a room (planned)#

  1. Scan the host's QR code, or open the share link. Each room has a short Room code.
  2. On Join the room, enter Your name and pick The language you speak.
  3. Tap Join room.
  4. When you see Put in your earbuds, put them in and tap I'm ready.
  5. Allow the microphone when your browser asks.

Some languages are planned with a spoken voice. Others are planned as Text only at first: you read the translations, and spoken voice for that language comes later.

Step 3 — Talk (planned)#

  • Your microphone stays on. Just talk normally.
  • Tap Mute when you want privacy. While muted, nobody hears you.
  • Messages appear in your language. Tap a message to see the original.
  • Tap Play again to hear a translation one more time.
  • People who are talking show as speaking.
Group Room conversation with chat messages, speaking indicators and the Mute button

Host controls (planned)#

The host is planned to have Host controls:

  • Lock room: nobody new can join. Use Unlock room to let people in again.
  • Remove: removes a person from the room.
  • End room for everyone: closes the room for all participants.

Privacy (planned)#

  • Rooms are temporary. A room is planned to close on its own after a period with no activity.
  • When a room ends, the conversation is not saved.
  • Rooms are planned for small groups, up to 10 people.

Troubleshooting#

These are planned messages. Wording may change.

"This room is full (10 people)." The room has reached its limit. Ask the host to start a second room.

"The host has locked this room." Ask the host to tap Unlock room.

"Microphone access is blocked." You can still listen and read. To talk, allow the microphone for the site in your browser settings, then reload.

I hear the translation twice, or people hear their own words back. Make sure everyone is wearing earbuds. Phone speakers let translations get picked up by other phones.

"That room doesn't exist." Check the room code, or ask the host for a new QR code. The room may have ended.

FAQ#

When will Group Rooms be available?#

There is no release date yet. This article will be updated when Group Rooms launch.

How is this different from the Listener page?#

The Listener page is for a service: one speaker is translated for everyone listening. A Group Room is a conversation: everyone can speak, and everyone hears everyone else.

Will Group Rooms cost extra?#

Pricing has not been announced. See Plans and trial for current plans.

Do I need an SW1 box, a Web device or OBS?#

No. Group Rooms are planned to run entirely in phone browsers.