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A big community server

In a big server you rarely want every channel translated. Pick the channels where languages meet, make sure the bot can work there, keep your community's names exact, and keep an eye on the monthly volume.

Free, more with a planAdmin (Manage Server)15 minutes

You need

Manage Server (for /channel commands, Manage Channels is enough).
Free to start. Busy servers usually outgrow the free 5,000 translations a month: see step 6.

1. Decide where translation happens

Only the channels you choose/server autotranslatemode: Only configured channels (/channel translate)

Nothing translates on its own until you give a channel a language.

Or the whole server/server autotranslatemode: All channels (default)

Every channel, into the server language. Fine for small servers, heavy for big ones.

2. Give channels their languages

One international channel/channel translatelanguage: Englishchannel: #international

Run it again for each language the channel should carry: up to 2 free, 8 on a Server plan.

A whole category at once/channel categorycategory: Globallanguage: English

Every channel in the category gets that language.

Check and tidy/channel list

Remove one language with /channel disablechannel: #internationallanguage: Spanish.

3. Let the bot see those channels

Permissions

In each translated channel the bot's role needs View Channel, Send Messages, Read Message History and Embed Links. Private channels and strict category overrides are the usual reason a channel stays silent.

Let it tell you/server view

Shows mode, channels, usage and a Needs doing list when something is blocked.

4. Keep your community's words exact

Server name, ranks, game terms/glossary addterm: Kingdom 1494translation: Kingdom 1494

3 terms free, 250 on a Server plan. See Keep names and terms exact with a glossary.

5. Help members find their way

Post the command list/commands postchannel: #how-topin: True

Every command, in your server's language, and the bot keeps the copy up to date. Post it again with another language: for a second copy.

A weekly summary for the mods/server digestenabled: Truechannel: #mod-log

Mondays: what was translated, and a warning once usage passes 70% of the month.

6. Plan for volume

Watch the count

Free servers get 5,000 translations every 30 days. Automatic translations, watcher DMs, in-server /translate, Translate Message and flag reactions all count. /server view shows where you are.

When you outgrow it/premium upgrade

Server Basic: 100,000 a month and 8 languages a channel. Server Pro: no monthly limit, plus seamless translation. Then follow After you buy a plan: check it is working.

Check it works

/server view shows your mode and channels, and no Needs doing list.
Post a test message in each translated channel.

If something is off

A channel never translates.

Almost always permissions: the bot cannot see it. Check the channel and its category overrides for the bot's role, then /server view.

Translation stopped in the middle of the month.

The server used its monthly translations. /server view shows when they reset; a Server plan raises or removes the limit.

A member bought a plan and nothing changed.

A Server plan belongs to one server. Run /premium status inside that server. See After you buy a plan: check it is working.