BabelBotReply mode
Choose where translations appear and whether BabelBot keeps the original message.
Reply mode controls how members read translations in Discord. You can show them below the original, put them in a thread, or replace the original text message.
Choose a mode
Sign in to the dashboard, select your server, and open Reply mode. You need Manage Server in Discord.
| Mode | What members see | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Reply in the channel | BabelBot replies below the original message | A quiet channel with one or two target languages |
| Translation threads | Members open a thread attached to the original to read translations | A busy channel where translations would fill the chat |
| Replace the original | BabelBot reposts the translation with the member's name and avatar, then deletes the original | A regular text channel where everyone should read the chosen language |
Changes save automatically. Wait for Saved before testing.
New servers use Plain text for in-channel replies by default. Existing servers keep their reply style. Choose Embed for a styled translation card or Plain text for a compact message. With several target languages, plain text includes a language label for each translation.
Read translations in a thread
A Discord thread is a separate conversation attached to a message. In thread mode, open the thread below the original message to see its translations.
Set Auto-delete threads after to choose how many days BabelBot keeps its translation threads. A value of 0 keeps them until you delete them yourself. Automatic cleanup deletes the thread and the translations inside it.
BabelBot replies inside a thread that already exists. Forum and media posts work this way too. In a voice channel's written chat, BabelBot replies directly in the chat.
Replace the original
With one target language, BabelBot replaces messages written in other languages with that translation. Messages already in the target language stay as they are. With several targets, the replacement includes the original text followed by translations.
Members cannot edit the replacement as their own message
BabelBot posts the replacement. The original message's link, timestamp, and reactions do not transfer. Tell your members before you enable this mode.
Use Update Discord permissions to grant BabelBot Manage Webhooks, Manage Messages, View Channel, and Read Message History. Check the channel's permissions too. Choosing the mode does not grant these permissions.
BabelBot posts the translation before deleting the original. If translation or delivery fails, it keeps the original. Replacement applies to automatic text translation in regular server text channels. Attachments, bridges, announcements, and messages inside threads use their usual delivery. Flag reactions and context menus keep the original.
Test or change the mode
If English is your only target, post Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?. Check for an English translation in the place you chose. For other targets, use a sentence in a different language. Very long plain-text replies may move into a thread to fit Discord's message limits.
To stop replacing messages, choose Reply in the channel or Translation threads. This changes future translations. It cannot restore originals BabelBot already deleted.
Use Channel rules to choose a different mode or reply style in selected channels.