People look for a Discord translator in three places: a browser extension, a plugin for the Discord client, or a bot added to the server. They behave very differently.
Extensions, plugins and bots compared
Works in the Discord desktop app
- Browser extension
- No
- Client plugin
- Only with a modified client
- Translation bot
- Yes
Works on phones
- Browser extension
- No
- Client plugin
- No
- Translation bot
- Yes
Others see the translation
- Browser extension
- No, only you
- Client plugin
- No, only you
- Translation bot
- Yes, in the channel
Translates as messages arrive
- Browser extension
- Page-by-page, when you ask
- Client plugin
- Depends on the plugin
- Translation bot
- Yes, with auto-translate or routes
Allowed by Discord’s Terms
- Browser extension
- Yes
- Client plugin
- No: client mods break them
- Translation bot
- Yes
| Browser extension | Client plugin | Translation bot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works in the Discord desktop app | No | Only with a modified client | Yes |
| Works on phones | No | No | Yes |
| Others see the translation | No, only you | No, only you | Yes, in the channel |
| Translates as messages arrive | Page-by-page, when you ask | Depends on the plugin | Yes, with auto-translate or routes |
| Allowed by Discord’s Terms | Yes | No: client mods break them | Yes |
Browser extensions
A page translator in Chrome, Edge or Firefox can translate Discord when you use it at discord.com in the browser. It translates what is on your screen, for you alone, and only when you ask. It does nothing in the desktop app or on your phone, and the people you talk to still can't read your replies.
Client plugins
Translator plugins exist for modified Discord clients. They add a translate button to messages, but they only run in the modified desktop client, only for you, and modifying the client is against Discord's Terms of Service, so you risk your account. They don't work on phones.
Translation bots
A bot runs on Discord's side, so it works in every client, phones included, and its translations are ordinary messages everyone in the channel can read. With Talksy, translations are posted under the original author's name and avatar, so the chat stays one conversation.
- Your own messages, translated as you type: run
/talksyonce and pick a language. - Any message, once: react with a flag, such as 🇪🇸 or 🇯🇵.
- A whole channel in another language: an admin adds a channel route.
/talksy language:spanish
/server route add source:#general target:#general-es language:spanishAdd Talksy to your server to use all three. Not an admin? You can add it to your own account and translate any message with right-click, in any server.
How to translate on Discord mobile
- Long-press the message you want to read.
- Tap Apps, then Translate Message. The translation appears only to you.
- Or react with a flag emoji: the translation is posted as a reply in the channel.
Both work on iPhone and Android once Talksy is in the server or added to your account. Messages translated automatically with /talksy or a route show up on phones like any other message.