How to translate Telegram messages on desktop
Short answer: in Telegram Desktop go to Settings → Language and turn on message translation. Then right-click any message and choose Translate. Telegram Premium adds automatic translation of entire chats as messages arrive. To translate your replies as well, or to translate across several accounts in one place, you need a client with an input translator or a tool like TGDesk (coming soon).
Option 1: Telegram's built-in translation
- Open Settings → Language.
- Enable "Show Translate button" / message translation and choose languages you do not want translated.
- Right-click a message → Translate. With Premium, a translation bar appears at the top of chats in other languages to translate the whole chat.
Per Telegram's translation docs, translation is performed by Telegram's servers, and real-time whole-chat translation is reserved for Premium users. Telegram's blog also notes channel owners can enable auto-translation for everyone.
Limits: translation is for reading; there is no built-in "translate my draft". Premium is billed per account, so whole-chat translation on three accounts means three subscriptions.
Option 2: third-party clients with translators
- Nicegram lists a Translator and an Input Translator for outgoing messages (features). Desktop is macOS only per its site.
- AyuGram lists a translator in its README.
- Ferdium (a web-app container) translates selected text via right-click.
Option 3: OS or browser tools
Copying text into a translator works for occasional messages, but it is slow for customer conversations and you lose context.
Option 4: TGDesk for customer conversations
TGDesk includes translation designed for support and sales chats across several Telegram accounts:
- The translation appears under the original (the original is kept), and translated text is searchable.
- Translate draft: write in your language and convert the draft into the customer's language; sending stays a separate click.
- Turn it on per account. The default engine (Argos Translate) runs on your computer, so text is not sent anywhere; a local LibreTranslate server or a model endpoint you configure are optional.
- Works together with OCR (text in screenshots) and voice-to-text, so foreign-language images and voice notes become readable too.
TGDesk is a paid desktop app, coming soon, with a mobile app planned. It is independent and not affiliated with Telegram.
Comparison
| Telegram (free) | Telegram Premium | Nicegram | TGDesk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Translate a message | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-translate whole chats | No | Yes | Not specified | Yes, per account |
| Translate your draft | No | No | Input translator | Yes |
| Where it runs | Telegram servers | Telegram servers | Not specified | On your PC by default |
| Across several accounts in one view | No | No | No | Yes |
Tips for translating customer chats
- Keep the original visible; machine translation can flip meanings in prices and negations.
- Write short, simple sentences before translating your reply.
- For product names and numbers, check the translated draft before sending.
Related: Telegram voice message to text on PC · Copy text from images in Telegram.
FAQ
Is Telegram translation free?
Translating individual messages is available to all users. Automatic translation of whole chats as you scroll is a Telegram Premium feature, and channel owners can turn on auto-translation for their channel.
Where is the translate setting in Telegram Desktop?
Settings → Language → enable message translation. Then right-click a message and choose Translate, or use the translation bar at the top of a chat.
Can I translate my reply before sending?
Telegram's built-in translation is for reading. Some third-party clients (e.g. Nicegram's input translator) and TGDesk's draft translation translate what you type.
Does translation send my messages anywhere?
Telegram's translation runs through Telegram's servers (messages.translateText). TGDesk's default engine runs on your computer; cloud engines are optional.
Coming soon — paid launch, no public download yet