How to Translate Messages on Discord

This guide shows you how to translate messages on Discord, whether you’re using the built-in translation feature on mobile or a desktop workaround. You’ll learn the steps for both Android/iOS and Windows/Mac, plus how to handle common issues like missing buttons or translation errors.

What You’ll Need

An active Discord account (free or Nitro)
The Discord app installed on your phone (iOS/Android) or access to the desktop app or web version
An internet connection
For desktop: a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.) or the Discord desktop app

Step-by-Step

On Mobile (Android and iOS)

Open the Discord app on your phone and navigate to the server or direct message where the message you want to translate is located.
Find the message you want to translate. It can be in any language Discord supports.
Press and hold on the message bubble until a menu appears at the bottom of the screen.
Tap the Translate option. This is usually located near the top of the menu, next to options like “Copy” and “Edit.”
Discord will automatically detect the language and show the translated text in a small overlay or below the original message. The translation is generated using machine translation, so it may not be perfect.
To see the original message again, tap the translated text or tap the “Show original” button if available.

On Desktop (Windows, Mac, and Web)

Discord does not have a built-in translation feature on desktop as of now. However, you can use a workaround with a browser extension if you’re using the web version, or use a third-party translation bot for servers you manage.

For the web version: Open your web browser (like Chrome, Edge, or Firefox) and go to discord.com/app. Log in to your account.
Install a translation extension from your browser’s extension store. Popular options include “Google Translate” for Chrome, “To Google Translate” for Firefox, or “Immersive Translate” for multiple browsers.
After installing, the extension icon will appear in your browser toolbar. When you want to translate a message, highlight the text of the message with your mouse.
Click the extension icon and choose the language you want to translate to. The extension will replace or overlay the selected text with the translation.
Alternatively, some extensions like “Immersive Translate” automatically translate entire messages when you scroll. You can toggle this on/off in the extension settings.
For the desktop app: The desktop app doesn’t support browser extensions. Your best bet is to use the web version in a browser for translation, or ask the server owner to add a translation bot (like “Translate Bot” or “YAGPDB”) that can translate messages on demand with a command.

Common Mistakes

Assuming desktop has the same feature: The built-in Translate button only exists on mobile. On desktop, you need a workaround.
Holding too short: On mobile, you need to press and hold the message for about a second. A quick tap won’t open the menu.
Not scrolling to see the translation: On mobile, the translation might appear below the original message, and you may need to scroll down slightly to see it.
Using a translation bot without permissions: If you’re adding a bot to a server, you need the “Manage Server” permission. Also, the bot may require specific channel permissions to work.
Expecting perfect translations: Machine translation is not always accurate, especially with slang or idiomatic expressions. Use it as a general understanding, not for critical communication.

Tips

Use the mobile app for quick translations: If you’re on a desktop but need to translate a message quickly, you can open the same server on your phone and use the built-in Translate feature there.
Customize your browser extension: Most translation extensions let you set a default target language. Set it to your native language to save a step.
For server owners: Add a translation bot to your server to help members who speak different languages. Bots like “Translate Bot” can translate messages when users react with a flag emoji or use a command like !translate [text].
Use the Discord mobile app’s language detection: The app automatically detects the message language, so you don’t have to specify it.
Combine with Discord’s text-to-speech (TTS): If you’re in a voice channel, you can use the TTS feature to hear the translated text, but note that it will read the original text, not the translation.

Troubleshooting

Translate button not showing on mobile: Make sure you have updated Discord to the latest version. If the button is still missing, restart the app. Also, the feature might not be available in all regions or for all languages. If it’s still not there, it could be a server-side rollout issue—wait a few days.
Translation is inaccurate or gibberish: This can happen with slang, abbreviations, or very long messages. Try breaking the message into smaller parts or ask the sender to clarify. Machine translation is not perfect.
Browser extension doesn’t work on Discord: Discord may block some extensions due to security. Try a different extension or use the “Immersive Translate” extension which is known to work with Discord. Also, make sure the extension is enabled and you’re on the web version, not the desktop app.
Translation bot not responding: Check if the bot is online and has the necessary permissions. Also, ensure the bot’s prefix is correct (often ! or /). If the bot is not responding, try removing and re-adding it.
Can’t highlight text on Discord web: If you’re having trouble selecting text, try using the browser’s “Inspect” element feature (right-click) to manually copy the text, then paste it into a translation website like Google Translate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the translation feature free?

Yes, Discord’s built-in translation on mobile is free for all users. No Nitro subscription is required.

Can I translate messages in a server I don’t manage?

Yes, on mobile you can translate any message you can read. On desktop, you can use a browser extension to translate text on the web version, regardless of server permissions.

Does the translation work for all languages?

Discord uses Google Translate’s engine, so it supports the languages that Google Translate supports, which is over 100 languages. However, the quality may vary for less common languages.

Can I translate voice messages?

No, the translation feature only works for text messages. Voice messages would need to be transcribed first, which Discord does not currently support.

Will Discord add translation to desktop?

Discord has not announced a timeline for desktop translation. As of now, the feature is only available on mobile. The workaround is to use the web version with a browser extension.

Can I translate an entire channel at once?

No, you can only translate individual messages. There is no bulk translation feature. For a whole channel, you’d need to copy the text and use an external translation tool.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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