Live translation
What this chapter covers
Read foreign-language comments and DMs in your own language, and send your replies translated into the other person's language. Turn it on in Settings → AI → Live translation.
9.1When to use it
| Situation | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| You often get comments · DMs in other languages | Foreign-language messages are shown in your language |
| You need to reply in another language | Write in your language and it's sent translated into theirs |
| You just want to check one comment | Use the translate icon next to a comment to translate just that one |
9.2Before you start
- Your Instagram account must be connected. (Works with both Instagram login and Facebook login.)
- This setting only applies to the account you're logged in to Conma with. It doesn't affect other members of the same workspace. Each member turns it on or off for themselves.
- Translation is a paid plan (and free trial) feature. On the Free plan, you can't turn on live translation. You can still see the list of languages that get translated.
- Each translation uses credits. (See 'Credits' below.)
9.3Step-by-step guide
Turn on live translation
In Settings → AI → Live translation, turn on 'Live translation', then under scope, turn on where you want translation (Comments · DMs). The status next to the screen title changes to 'On'.
Live translation settings screen
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Live translation | Turns all translation on or off |
| Scope · Comments | When on, foreign-language comments are shown translated, and replies you write to them are sent translated into the commenter's language |
| Scope · DMs | When on, foreign-language DMs are shown translated, and your replies are sent translated into the sender's language |
| Auto-translate languages | Choose which languages to translate (see 'Choose languages to translate' below) |
Choose languages to translate
In 'Auto-translate languages', click Languages to translate to open the language list. Uncheck any languages you don't need translated. Messages in those languages stay in the original, and your replies won't be translated either. Unchecking languages you can read helps you save credits. Use the search box at the top to find a language.
It's on, but some messages are still in the original language? That language may be unchecked in 'Auto-translate languages'. The language may also not be supported, or the message may already be in your language.
Live translation status panel
Click Live translation at the top right of the Comments · Posts · DM inbox screens to see whether it's on, a switch to turn it on or off, and where it's set up. Click 'Go to live translation settings' to jump straight to the settings screen.
Read foreign-language comments · DMs
With live translation on, foreign-language comments and DMs are translated automatically. Even with it off, you can click the translate icon (文A) next to a comment's timestamp to translate just that comment into your language.
Translations only appear on your screen. The comments and messages your customers see don't change.
Translated comment
In the comment list, the translation appears in place of the comment text, with the original language and original text shown below it, like 'Translated from English'.
Translation attached below a message received in English
With live translation on, new foreign-language messages appear in your language, with 'Translated from ○○' below the message bubble.
Notice for untranslatable languages
If a translation attempt fails, 'This message couldn't be translated · Kept in the original' appears below the message bubble. No credits are used in this case.
Send translated replies
Replies to foreign-language comments are sent translated into the commenter's language. For DM replies, you check the translation before sending, as shown below.
With live translation on, you need to press Send twice to send a message.
- Write in your language and press Send. The translation appears above the input box. It hasn't been sent yet.
- Check the translation and press Send again to send it.
Translated reply
If the translation sounds off, edit it between steps 1 and 2. After editing, start again from step 1.
There are three notices that can appear above the input box.
| Notice shown | What it means |
|---|---|
| 'Check translation (○○)' | The translation is ready. Press once more to send this sentence. |
| 'Original edited · Press Send to translate again' | You edited the text after checking it. Press to translate the edited text again. |
| 'Already written in ○○ · Sending as is, without translation' | You already wrote in the recipient's language, so there's nothing to translate. Press once more to send it exactly as written. |
If the recipient's language isn't covered by translation, you'll see a notice above the input box in advance. 'Language excluded from translation · Sending original as is' means you removed that language in the auto-translate language settings of Live Translation. 'Language not supported · Sending original as is' means Conma doesn't support that language. In both cases, your message is sent as written and no credits are used.
We added this extra confirmation step on purpose. Since the sentence goes straight to the recipient, it gives you a chance to fix any awkward translation before sending.
9.4Credits
Live Translation uses credits. Credits are deducted separately when you read received messages and when you write messages to send.
| Type | Credits |
|---|---|
| Translating received messages (reading) | 1 credit / message |
| Translating messages to send (writing) | 2 credits / message |
When no credits are deducted
- When you view an already translated message again (the saved translation is shown)
- When there's nothing to translate, such as emoji or numbers
- When the original and target languages are the same
- When translation fails
There are two cases where you may use more credits than expected.
If you edit your reply several times, credits are deducted each time. A new translation happens whenever a new confirmation card appears. Rewriting three times costs 6 credits. It's best to polish your sentence first and press Send at the end.
If you change the service display language, conversations you've already seen are translated again. Translations are saved per language, so there's nothing saved yet for the new language, and translating again uses credits.
If you run out of credits, you'll see a notice asking you to top up and turn it back on, and Live Translation will be locked. Already translated bubbles stay visible, and you can still send messages in the original language. Only 'new translations' stop.
9.5Wrapping up
With Live Translation on, you can read foreign-language comments and DMs in your own language and reply in the recipient's language just by writing as usual. Check comments in Comments and DMs in DM Inbox.
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