Convert String Catalog to Android XML online

Upload a Xcode String Catalog (.xcstrings) file and download it as Android strings.xml. Translation keys, plurals and placeholders are preserved. Free, no account needed.

Pick the source format or let the converter detect it from the file.

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Android strings.xml

Android keeps translations in res/values-xx/strings.xml resource files with string, string-array and plurals elements. Placeholders use the Java format syntax such as %1$s.

One file per language. Format documentation

Need it the other way round? Convert Android XML to String Catalog.

From: Xcode String Catalog (.xcstrings)

String Catalogs were introduced in Xcode 15 and store all languages, plural variants and device variations of a project in one JSON-based .xcstrings file.

Used by: Xcode 15+, SwiftUI, iOS 17+. All languages in one file. Read the String Catalog format guide.

{ "sourceLanguage" : "en", "strings" : { "hello world" : { "comment" : "My Hello World description", "extractionState" : "manual", "localizations" : { "pl" : { "stringUnit" : { "state" : "translated", "value" : "Witaj Świecie!" } } } } }, "version" : "1.0" }
{
  "sourceLanguage" : "en",
  "strings" : {
    "hello world" : {
      "comment" : "My Hello World description",
      "extractionState" : "manual",
      "localizations" : {
        "pl" : {
          "stringUnit" : {
            "state" : "translated",
            "value" : "Witaj Świecie!"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "version" : "1.0"
}

To: Android strings.xml

Android keeps translations in res/values-xx/strings.xml resource files with string, string-array and plurals elements. Placeholders use the Java format syntax such as %1$s.

Used by: Android, Jetpack Compose, Kotlin Multiplatform. One language per file. Read the Android XML format guide.

<resources> <string name="hello_world">Witaj Świecie!</string> <string name="welcome"><![CDATA[Witaj <b>%s</b>!]]></string> <plurals name="numberOfSongsAvailable"> <item quantity="one">Znaleziono %d piosenkę.</item> <item quantity="few">Znaleziono %d piosenki.</item> <item quantity="other">Znaleziono %d piosenek.</item> </plurals> <string-array name="planets_array"> <item>Merkury</item> <item>Venus</item> <item>Ziemia</item> <item>Mars</item> </string-array> </resources>
<resources>
    <string name="hello_world">Witaj Świecie!</string>
    <string name="welcome"><![CDATA[Witaj <b>%s</b>!]]></string>
    <plurals name="numberOfSongsAvailable">
        <item quantity="one">Znaleziono %d piosenkę.</item>
        <item quantity="few">Znaleziono %d piosenki.</item>
        <item quantity="other">Znaleziono %d piosenek.</item>
    </plurals>
    <string-array name="planets_array">
        <item>Merkury</item>
        <item>Venus</item>
        <item>Ziemia</item>
        <item>Mars</item>
    </string-array>
</resources>

How to convert String Catalog to Android XML

  1. Drop your .xcstrings file into the converter above, or paste its content.
  2. Click Convert. You get one .xml file per language.
  3. Preview the result, copy it or download the files.

What changes between String Catalog and Android XML

  • String Catalog holds every language in one file, so the converter writes one Android XML file per language found in the source.
  • Apple placeholders such as %@ and %1$@ are rewritten to Android-compatible %s and %1$s.

Convert and translate in one place

If you need the Android XML file in more languages, the fastest route is a free SimpleLocalize project: import the String Catalog file, add languages, run auto-translation with DeepL, Google Translate, OpenAI, Claude or Gemini, and download the result as Android XML. The CLI does the same from CI with upload and download commands, so the conversion becomes part of your build. See also translating String Catalog files.

Frequently asked questions

Is the converter free?

Yes. There is no signup and no limit on the number of conversions beyond a few requests per second.

Are my files stored?

No. The file is parsed in memory, converted and returned in the same request. Nothing is written to disk or a database.

What about plurals and placeholders?

Plural forms are normalized to ICU message syntax and written back in the native form of Android XML. Placeholders are kept, and Apple and Android specific syntax is translated between platforms. Read more in the pluralization guide.

Translate your Android XML files

  • Import String Catalog or Android XML files into a free project
  • Auto-translate with DeepL, Google, OpenAI, Claude or Gemini
  • Download in any of the supported formats or publish to the CDN
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