Quick start: add a Discord translation bot

Learn how to add a Discord translation bot, configure BabelBot, and validate automatic translation in under 10 minutes.

You will have BabelBot translating messages in under 10 minutes. This workflow uses production-safe defaults so you can validate before enabling more channels or languages.

Before you start

You need Manage Server on the target Discord server
BabelBot must be invited to that server
You must be able to sign in at app.babelbot.xyz/login

Discord translation bot setup workflow

1. Invite BabelBot to the right server

Use the invite flow on the website or from the dashboard server list. Check that you installed BabelBot to the correct guild, not a personal or test server.

2. Open the dashboard and select your server

Sign in at app.babelbot.xyz/login with Discord. In the server list: find your server, confirm it shows Installed, then click Manage.

3. Configure the minimum required settings

Required:

Add at least one Target language
Turn Server status to enabled

Recommended:

Set Reply preference to thread if you expect high message volume
Disable admin, logs, and bot-command channels so they stay clean

4. Validate with a real message

Post a test message in an enabled channel in a language different from your target. If a translation appears, you are done.

If nothing appears, check:

Server translation is enabled
The channel is not disabled
At least one target language is set
The message has translatable text (not only links, emoji, or shorthand)

Verify your configuration

Run these in Discord to confirm settings:

/server view
/language list
/channel view channel:#your-channel
/reply-preference view
/quota

First-week defaults by server size

Use reply mode for in-channel readability
Start with 1–2 target languages
Disable admin/mod/log channels

Use thread mode from day one to keep channels readable
Enable translation only in the channels that matter
Review usage and limits weekly

Next: How BabelBot Works explains when translations appear and when they are skipped. Then read the Command Reference for every slash command.