How to Translate Messages on Telegram

To translate messages on Telegram, first switch on the translate button in Settings, under Language. After that, tap or long-press any message in another language and choose Translate. Translating single messages is free; translating whole chats automatically as you read is a Telegram Premium feature.

This guide shows how to set it up on Android, iPhone and Desktop, how whole-chat translation works, how to stop Telegram offering translation for languages you already read, and what to do with voice messages, images and replies you want to write in another language.

How translation works in Telegram

Telegram's translation is built into the app. A few points explain its behaviour:

• It is switched off by default in many versions. You turn on the translate button once, and it then appears on messages in other languages.
• Telegram detects the language of each message. When the language differs from the app's language and is not on your "do not translate" list, the translate option is offered.
• The translation is done by a service rather than on your phone. The message text is sent for translation and the result shown under or in place of the original. This matters for privacy, covered below.
• The original is never changed. Translation is only what you see. The sender and other readers still see the original text, and nothing is sent back to the chat.

Before you start

• Update Telegram. Translation and its settings have changed over time. An older version may lack the option entirely.
• Set your app language. Telegram translates into the language your app is set to by default. If your app is in English but you want translations in Spanish, change the app language first, or check whether your version lets you choose a target language when translating.
• Decide which languages you already read. You will add these to the "do not translate" list so the button stays out of your way.
• Check each device. Translation settings may need to be switched on separately in each app you use, so repeat the setup on your phone and computer if the button is missing on one of them.
• Keep a translation app as a backup. For text Telegram cannot translate, such as images or bot buttons, a separate translation app fills the gap.

Turn on the translate button

Switch it on in Android

1. Open the menu (three lines) and tap Settings.
2. Tap Language.
3. Turn on "Show Translate Button".
4. Tap "Do Not Translate" and select every language you read comfortably.

Switch it on in iPhone and iPad

1. Tap Settings in the bottom bar.
2. Tap Language.
3. Turn on "Show Translate Button".
4. Open "Do Not Translate" and tick the languages you read.

Switch it on in Telegram Desktop

1. Open Settings.
2. Look for Language, or for translation options under Advanced, depending on your version.
3. Turn on the option to show the translate button or offer translation.
4. Set the languages you do not want translated, if offered.

Labels vary slightly between versions. If you cannot find the switch, search the Settings screen for "translate".

Translate a single message

Translating on Android

1. Tap the message (or long-press it, depending on your version).
2. Choose Translate from the menu.
3. A window shows the translation. You can copy it from there.

Translating on iPhone and iPad

1. Long-press the message.
2. Tap Translate.
3. Read or copy the translation in the panel that opens.

Translating on Telegram Desktop

1. Right-click the message.
2. Choose Translate.
3. The translation opens in a small window.

Telegram Web offers similar options in newer versions. If it does not, use Telegram Desktop or a phone app.

Changing the target language for one translation

In many versions, the translation window shows which languages it translated from and to, and lets you tap the target language to choose another. That is handy when you want a message in a language other than your app's, for example to share with a friend.

Translate a whole chat, group or channel

Translating messages one by one is fine for the odd message. In a group or channel that is entirely in another language, it becomes tiring. Telegram Premium adds whole-chat translation.

How it works

1. Open a chat, group or channel mostly written in a language you have not marked as one you read.
2. With Premium, a translation bar appears at the top of the chat, offering to translate it.
3. Tap it. Messages in the chat now appear translated as you scroll.
4. Tap the bar again to show the originals.

From the bar's menu you can usually choose the target language, hide the bar for that chat, or tell Telegram not to offer translation for that source language.

When the bar does not appear

Telegram needs to be confident about a chat's language before it offers whole-chat translation. In a new chat with only a few messages, or a chat that mixes languages, the bar may not show. It appears once there is enough text in one language.

Is Premium worth it for translation?

If you follow several channels or groups in languages you do not read, whole-chat translation saves a lot of tapping. If you only meet the occasional foreign message, the free single-message option is enough. Translation is one part of a larger package, so read Telegram Premium vs free before deciding.

Telegram has also been extending translation features to channels and other places over time. If you run a channel with an international audience, check your channel's settings and Telegram's announcements for current options.

Translate voice messages

Telegram's translation works on text. For voice messages there are two steps.

1. Turn speech into text. Telegram Premium includes transcription of voice and video messages: a button next to the voice message converts it to text. Free accounts may be offered a limited number of transcriptions; check what your app shows.
2. Translate the text. Copy the transcription and translate it, either with Telegram's translate option if it is offered on the transcription in your version, or by pasting it into a translation app.

If you cannot transcribe, play the voice message aloud near a translation app that listens to speech. Results vary with sound quality and accents.

Translate text in images

Telegram does not translate text inside photos, such as a menu or a screenshot of an announcement. Your phone may be able to.

• On iPhone: open the photo, and if the system recognises text in it, you can select the text and use the built-in Translate option.
• On Android: many phones offer text recognition through the camera, the gallery or a lens feature in the system or keyboard, which can translate selected text.
• On a computer: save the image and use a translation service that accepts images, if you trust it with the content.

Be cautious with screenshots that contain personal information, such as names, phone numbers or addresses, before uploading them to any outside service.

Write replies in another language

Telegram focuses on translating messages you receive. For your own replies:

1. Use your keyboard's translation feature. Several popular phone keyboards include a translate mode: you type in your language and the keyboard inserts the translation.
2. Use the system translate option. On iPhone, selecting text you have typed often shows a Translate option in the menu, with a choice to replace your text.
3. Write, translate, check. Type your reply, translate it, then translate the result back into your language to see whether the meaning survived. This catches many errors.
4. Keep it simple. Short sentences and plain words translate more reliably than idioms and jokes.

If accuracy really matters, for example in a business agreement, ask a fluent speaker to check before you send.

Change Telegram's own language

Translation changes the messages; the app language changes Telegram's menus and buttons. They are separate settings.

1. Open Settings, then Language.
2. Choose a language from the list. The app switches immediately.

The list includes official languages and, in many apps, additional languages translated by Telegram's community. Telegram runs an official translations platform where volunteers translate the apps, and some languages are available as language packs you can apply through a link. Only apply language packs from sources you trust, since unofficial ones can contain misleading wording.

Remember that the app language is also the default target for message translation.

Privacy: what happens to translated text

When you translate a message, its text is sent to a translation service so the translation can be produced. A few points follow from that:

• Normal cloud chats: the message is already stored on Telegram's servers, so translating it adds a step but does not move it somewhere it has never been. The translation itself is processed by a service that Telegram uses.
• Secret chats: these are end-to-end encrypted, and their content is not on Telegram's servers. Translation may be unavailable there in your version, or using any outside translation would mean sending the text out of the encrypted chat. Think about whether that is acceptable for the conversation. See Telegram secret chats explained.
• Third-party translation bots: a bot sees every message you send it. Avoid sending private or sensitive content to bots you do not trust. See are Telegram bots safe?.

The safest habit is simple: translate in-app for everyday messages, and think twice before sending anything confidential to any translator.

How good are the translations?

Machine translation is good at plain, everyday language and weaker at:

• Slang, memes and abbreviations, which are common in group chats.
• Mixed-language messages, where people switch languages mid-sentence.
• Very short messages, where there is not enough context.
• Names and usernames, which are sometimes translated as if they were words.
• Technical terms and specialised vocabulary.

When something sounds strange, read the original for clues such as numbers, links and names, or ask the sender. A misunderstanding caused by translation is easy to clear up if you mention you are using a translator.

Following channels in other languages

Translation opens up channels and groups you could not read before. A few tips:

1. Search in the channel's language. Telegram search works better with words in the language the channel uses. If you are browsing a directory, our guide on finding Telegram channels explains search strategies.
2. Check the channel before joining. A translated description can hide warning signs that are obvious in the original, such as promises of guaranteed profit. Translate the whole description and a few recent posts before trusting it.
3. Use folders. Put foreign-language channels in their own folder so you know which ones will need translation.
4. Mute busy foreign channels. Long posts in another language take longer to read, so muting lets you catch up when you have time rather than translating every alert.

If you are looking for channels in a particular language or topic, browsing categories on TGDirectory is another way to discover them.

For channel owners: reaching readers in other languages

Translation in the app helps readers, but channel owners can make their posts far easier to read for an international audience. Several approaches work, each with trade-offs.

One channel per language

Separate channels, such as one in English and one in Spanish, give each audience posts written for them. This is the clearest experience for readers and the most work for you: every post is written or translated twice, and each channel grows separately. It suits channels where language is central, such as local news or community information.

Bilingual posts

Writing each post in two languages, one after the other, keeps one channel and one audience. It doubles post length, which can make the channel feel heavy, so it works best for short posts. Put the main language first and keep the structure identical so readers can find their part.

One language, written to translate well

Many international channels post in one language and rely on readers' translation. If you do this, write in a way that survives machine translation:

• Use short, complete sentences.
• Avoid slang, puns and wordplay, which rarely translate.
• Put important text in the message, not only inside an image. Text in images cannot be translated by Telegram.
• Write numbers, dates and prices clearly, and avoid formats that differ between countries without explanation, such as dates written only as digits.
• Use plain links with descriptive text rather than "click here".

Tell readers how to translate

A short pinned message explaining how to switch on the translate button helps readers who do not know the feature exists. Keep it to a few steps, and write it in the main languages of your audience.

For whether Premium features help you as an owner, read is Telegram Premium worth it for channel owners.

For group admins: running a multilingual group

Groups with members from many countries face a choice: one shared language, or room for several.

Options that work

1. One official language, translation encouraged. Members write in the shared language, and those who struggle use translation to read and their keyboard to write. Simple, and it keeps everyone in one conversation.
2. Topics per language. In a group with topics, create a topic for each main language plus a shared one for announcements. Members talk comfortably in their own language, and admins post important news in the shared topic. See how to use topics in Telegram groups.
3. Separate groups linked by a channel. For large communities, one channel for announcements and one group per language can be easier to moderate than one huge mixed group.

Rules in more than one language

Write the group rules in each main language and pin them, or link to them in the group description. Translated rules prevent the classic argument where a member says they did not understand. If you use machine translation for the rules, ask a fluent member to check them.

Moderating languages you do not read

Admins need to understand what is being said to moderate fairly. Recruit at least one admin for each major language in the group. Translation helps an admin review a reported message, but it can miss tone and sarcasm, so check with someone fluent before banning over a translated message.

For businesses: answering customers in other languages

Shops and services on Telegram often receive messages in languages their staff do not speak.

1. Translate the customer's message in the app to understand it.
2. Write your answer in your own language, translate it with your keyboard or a translation app, and paste it.
3. Keep sentences short and avoid idioms, so the customer's own translation reads clearly if they translate it back.
4. For common questions, prepare answers in your customers' main languages in advance, checked by a fluent speaker, and reuse them.
5. For anything involving money, orders or refunds, confirm key details in simple form, such as numbers and dates, to avoid misunderstandings.

Some customers will reply in their language anyway. That is fine; translation works in both directions.

Translation and scams

Translation makes it easier to talk to people anywhere, and scammers use it too. A few warning signs are easier to spot when you know to look for them:

• A "local" contact whose messages read like machine translation. Someone claiming to be a nearby business or official, writing awkward translated text, deserves a second look.
• Pressure that survives translation. Urgency, secrecy and requests for codes, passwords or payments look the same in every language.
• Investment or job offers in foreign-language channels that promise high, easy returns. Translation can make them sound more polished than they are.

Never share login codes or passwords, whatever language the request is in. Read how to spot Telegram scams for the common patterns.

What can and cannot be translated

Telegram's translation is designed for the text of messages, including the captions on photos and videos. Other text in the app behaves differently.

• Message text and captions: translatable with the translate option.
• Channel and group names, bios and descriptions: the translate option is not always offered. Where you can copy the text, paste it into a translator. Translate a channel's description before joining, as covered above.
• Bot buttons and menus: buttons under a bot's message are part of the bot, not message text, so they usually are not translated. Many bots offer a language choice in their own settings or a start command; look for one.
• Polls and quizzes: the question and answers may not be translatable in every version. Copy them if needed.
• Text inside stickers, images and videos: not translated by Telegram. Use your phone's text recognition as described above.
• Links and link previews: Telegram translates the message, not the web page behind it. Open the page in a browser with translation if you need it.

When in doubt, copying text into a translation app always works, as long as you are happy to share that text with the app.

Learning a language with Telegram

Telegram translation can be a learning tool if you use it deliberately.

1. Follow channels in the language you are learning. News, hobby and culture channels give you daily reading at different levels.
2. Put them in a folder. A dedicated folder keeps your practice reading in one place. See folders in Telegram's settings.
3. Read the original first. Try to understand the post before translating it. Then translate to check yourself.
4. Remove the language from "do not translate" only while you need it. As you improve, add it back so the translate button stops tempting you.
5. Join a group for learners where people write in the language and correct each other. Translation helps you follow, and writing your own messages is the real practice.
6. Send voice messages if the group welcomes them. Speaking and listening are where text-based apps help least.

The translate-back check described earlier, translating your own text into the target language and back, is also a quick way to see whether a sentence you wrote says what you meant.

Quick setup checklist

• Update Telegram.
• Set your app language to the language you want translations in.
• Turn on "Show Translate Button" under Settings, Language.
• Add every language you read to "Do Not Translate".
• Test it on a message in another language.
• If you have Premium, open a foreign-language channel and check that the translation bar appears.
• Set up your keyboard's translate mode for replies, if you need to write in other languages.

Troubleshooting

The Translate option does not appear on a message

Likely causes and fixes

1. The translate button is switched off. Turn on "Show Translate Button" in Settings, Language.
2. The message's language is on your "do not translate" list. Remove it from the list if you want translations.
3. The message is in the same language as your app. Telegram does not offer to translate it.
4. The message is too short or is mostly emoji, numbers or links, so the language cannot be detected.
5. Your app is outdated. Update it.

Translation fails or shows an error

1. Check your connection; translation needs the internet.
2. Try again in a minute. The translation service can be briefly unavailable.
3. Try a different device to rule out an app problem.

The whole-chat translation bar is missing

1. Whole-chat translation requires Premium.
2. The chat may not have enough messages in one language yet.
3. You may have hidden the bar for that chat or told Telegram not to translate that language. Check the "do not translate" list and the chat's menu.

Translations are in the wrong language

Translations go into your app language by default. Change the target language in the translation window if your version allows it, or change the app language.

Worked examples

Example: a student in a new country

Example only. Ana moves to Germany for a semester and joins a student housing group where everyone writes in German.

1. She turns on the translate button and adds Spanish and English to "do not translate".
2. She translates important messages one by one, such as notices about rent and repairs.
3. When she replies, she types in English, uses her keyboard's translate mode to produce German, then checks it by translating back.

Example: following news channels abroad

Example only. Kenji follows several news channels in French and Arabic for work.

1. He finds single-message translation slow for long daily posts.
2. With Premium, he enables whole-chat translation in those channels.
3. He keeps the originals one tap away to check names and numbers.

Example: a voice message from a supplier

Example only. Mia receives a voice message in Italian from a supplier.

1. She uses transcription to turn it into text.
2. She copies the text and translates it.
3. Because the message is about prices, she replies asking the supplier to confirm the figures in writing.

Example: an international hobby group

Example only. Omar runs a group for photographers with members writing in English, Portuguese and Turkish. Arguments start because people misread translated messages.

1. He enables topics and creates one topic per language, plus a shared "Announcements" topic that only admins post in.
2. He pins the rules in all three languages, each checked by a fluent member.
3. He recruits a Portuguese-speaking and a Turkish-speaking moderator.
4. He posts a short guide explaining how to switch on the translate button, so members can still read the other topics.

Members now chat comfortably in their own language and drop into the other topics when they are curious.

Common mistakes

• Forgetting to turn the button on. Translate does not appear until the setting is switched on.
• Leaving your own language off the "do not translate" list. Telegram then offers translation everywhere, which gets in the way.
• Trusting translated financial or legal details blindly. Check numbers and terms against the original or with a fluent speaker.
• Sending private conversations to unknown translation bots. A bot sees everything you send it.
• Assuming the sender sees your translation. Translation is only on your screen. If you reply, write your reply in a language they read.

FAQ

Is translating messages on Telegram free?

Translating single messages is free once you switch on the translate button. Automatic translation of whole chats is a Telegram Premium feature.

Does the other person know I translated their message?

No. Translation happens only on your screen. Nothing is sent to the chat.

Can Telegram translate my messages before I send them?

Telegram focuses on translating incoming messages. For outgoing ones, use your keyboard's or phone's translation features, then paste the result.

Why is the translate button missing for some messages?

The message may be in your app's language, in a language on your "do not translate" list, or too short for the language to be detected.

Can I translate a whole channel's history at once?

With Premium's whole-chat translation, messages are translated as you scroll through the chat. There is no option to produce a translated copy of the whole history.

Does translation work in Telegram Web?

Newer versions of Telegram Web include translation options, but they can lag behind the apps. If you cannot find it, use Telegram Desktop or a phone.

Summary

Switch on "Show Translate Button" under Settings, Language, and add the languages you read to "Do Not Translate". Then long-press, tap or right-click any message and choose Translate. Premium adds a translation bar that translates whole chats, groups and channels as you read. For voice messages, transcribe first; for images and your own replies, use your phone's or keyboard's translation tools. Keep sensitive content away from translators you do not trust, and check important details against the original.