---
title: Chat Message Auto-Translation
updatedAt: 2026-09-06T11:12:34.150Z
---

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.watchers.io/llms.txt

# Chat Message Auto-Translation

The Chat Auto-Translation feature enables seamless multilingual communication between users by automatically translating incoming messages into a user's preferred language.

### Overview

When enabled, chat messages are translated in real time using the **Google Cloud Translation API**. This allows users from different locales to communicate fluidly without manual translation.

This feature is configurable both at the **user level** (via the chat UI) and at the **project level** (via the admin panel).

### How Users Enable Translation

1. **Toolbar Access**: In the chat UI, users can click the translation icon in the toolbar.
2. **Initial Setup**: If this is the first time, a modal appears allowing the user to:

   * Enable auto-translation
   * Choose a preferred translation language
   * Save settings for current and future chat sessions
3. **Toggle Behaviour**:

   * Clicking the icon again disables the feature
   * Language can be changed later via:  
     `Settings → Language`

All translated messages are displayed with an option to view the original text.

<img src="https://docs-assets.watchers.io/docs/readme/84863bef178739fdf62afd8071a6df71c2122db6a3f6df92f7357f53807e3266-image.png" alt="">

### Session Behaviour

* When enabled, all visible and newly loaded messages are translated
* Translations are applied during pagination as older messages load
* User preferences persist across sessions and apply globally to all rooms

**How can users change the language**

* on the chat with the specific button
* on their personal settings in a chat

<img src="https://docs-assets.watchers.io/docs/readme/30b481b33c38a21a0598129b372ebfe0346341a6051dd3a1eb6d91490211097e-image.png" alt="" width="500" class="img-center">

<img src="https://docs-assets.watchers.io/docs/readme/9765cac5575e66cc9d6e4b4b738d3a877b23258938487e853d58a94bb55c8f84-image.png" alt="" width="500" class="img-center">

### Admin Panel Settings

Platform admins can control access to this feature under:

`Settings → Language and Localization`

* **Toggle**: `Enable Chat Auto-Translation`

### Pricing Notice

**Auto-Translation is a paid feature.** Each translated message contributes to your overall usage volume, which may affect billing depending on your plan. Please take this into account when enabling translation, especially in high-traffic environments.

(`autotranslate=true`) across large user bases may significantly impact overall service costs. Use selectively to optimise billing.

### Related API Options

For information on programmatic activation via URL parameters, see: **[Forced Auto-Translate](https://docs.watchers.io/docs/forced-auto-translate)**

### Supported Languages

The list of supported target languages is sourced dynamically from [Google Cloud Translation API](https://cloud.google.com/translate/docs/languages).