How do you add a translator bot to Discord?

What do you need before you start?

You need the Manage Server permission on the Discord server. Discord shows only the servers where you have it. If your server is not in the list, ask the server owner to add the bot or to give you that permission.

You can add BabelBot in two ways. A server install adds it to one server, for every member. Automatic translation needs a server install. A user install adds it to your own Discord account. You can then translate messages for yourself in DMs and in servers without BabelBot, but other members see nothing. This guide is about the server install.

Step 1: Add the bot to your server

Select Add to Discord on the BabelBot website. Discord asks which server to use. Choose your server and select Authorize. Keep the requested permissions, because BabelBot needs them to read messages and post translations.

Discord then sends you to guided setup in the BabelBot dashboard. BabelBot also posts a welcome message in your server. It has a Set up BabelBot button, so you can open guided setup again if you close the page.

BabelBot starts to work as soon as you add it. It translates new messages into English in all text channels that it can see. You can change the languages in guided setup. To stop translation in channels such as mod or log channels, add a channel rule after setup.

Step 2: Choose the languages your members read

Target languages are the languages that BabelBot translates into. You do not choose the source language. BabelBot finds the language of each message, and it posts nothing for a language that a message is already in.

Start with one or two languages. Each target language adds one translation under a message. Free allows 3 target languages, Pro allows 5, and Ultra allows 10.

Step 3: Choose where translations appear

Choose Reply in channel or Group in a thread, then select Save and test. If Discord asks you to sign in, sign in. This shows BabelBot that you manage the server. You can change your choice later in the dashboard under Translate > Reply mode, where the choices are called Reply in the channel, Thread per message, and Replace the original.

• Reply in channel: the translation is a reply under the message. This suits most chat channels, also busy ones.
• Group in a thread: each translated message gets its own thread, and members open it to read the translation. The channel shows only the originals. This suits slower channels, such as announcements or support.
• Replace the original: BabelBot posts the translation with the member's name and avatar, then deletes the original message. You can choose it later under Reply mode.

Step 4: Send a test message

Open Discord and write a full sentence in a text channel. Use a language that is not one of your target languages. If English is your only target, try "Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?". BabelBot replies in a few seconds, and guided setup shows that it works.

If no translation appears, make sure that Translations is on in Overview and that BabelBot can see and send messages in that channel. Send a sentence, not only a link or emoji. The troubleshooting guide lists more causes.

• Fix a missing translation

Which translator bot commands can you use?

Automatic translation needs no command. Members write normally. BabelBot has a few commands for other jobs. To use a message menu, right-click a message, or press and hold it on a phone, then open Apps.

• Translate Text (message menu): translates one message into your language. Only you see the result. Every member can use it.
• Detect Language (message menu): tells you which language a message uses. Only you see the result.
• /set-context-language: sets the language that Translate Text uses for you.
• /voice start, /voice stop, and /voice status: control voice chat translation in a voice channel. Ultra and Founder Access.
• /dashboard: sends you a private link to the dashboard of the server. Needs Manage Server.
• /upgrade: shows the plan and limits of the server. Needs Manage Server.
• /language: sets the language of BabelBot's own messages, not the translations. Needs Manage Server.
• /help: shows where to change settings. Needs Manage Server.

• Command reference

How do you translate only one Discord channel?

BabelBot translates all text channels that it can see. To translate only one channel, turn off automatic translation for all channel types, then turn translation on for that one channel with a channel rule.

• In the dashboard, open Translate > Automatic translation. Turn off Text channels, and any other channel type that is on.
• Open Moderate > Channel rules and select Add channel rule.
• Select the channel. Select the Translation status checkbox, and leave Disable translation off. This turns translation on in this channel.
• Select Create rule. Then use Preview a channel to check the result.

• How channel rules work