If you’re noticing that your Facebook posts are not being translated as expected, there are a few possible reasons why this could be happening.
You don’t have translation enabled
The most obvious reason your Facebook posts aren’t translating is because you don’t have translation enabled on your Page. Here’s how to turn it on:
- Go to your Page and click “Settings” at the bottom of the left menu.
- Click “General” in the left column.
- Under “Language,” click “Edit.”
- Toggle “Automatically translate posts” to “On.”
Once you enable this setting, Facebook will automatically detect the language of your posts and translate them for viewers based on their language preferences. Allow some time after enabling for translations to start working.
Your post contains images or video
Facebook’s automatic translation currently only works on text content in posts. If your post contains images, videos, or other non-text elements, those won’t be translated. For best results, try to make posts that are primarily text-based.
Your post uses a mix of languages
Facebook’s translation engine works best when posts are written entirely in one language. If you switch between multiple languages within the same post, Facebook may have trouble accurately detecting and translating everything.
For multilingual posts, you’re better off either:
- Writing separate posts for each language
- Manually translating the post yourself and posting both versions
This will help ensure your different audiences see a post fully in their own language.
There’s an issue with the translation
In some cases, Facebook’s automatic translations may be poor or contain errors. Issues like awkward phrasing, mistranslated words, or sentences that don’t make sense can turn readers away.
Potential reasons for bad translations include:
- Your post uses slang, regional phrases, or niche terminology Facebook isn’t translating properly.
- You post has grammatical errors or typos confusing the translation engine.
- Your post is about a specialized or technical topic that’s challenging to translate.
When you notice translations that seem off, try simplifying your posts to use more common, straightforward language. You can also report translation errors to Facebook to help them improve.
Your post is being hidden from some audiences
In some cases, your post may not be visible to viewers in certain languages or countries for other reasons, so they never have a chance to see the translation.
This can happen if your post:
- Goes against local laws in certain regions and gets limited by Facebook.
- Gets caught by Facebook’s spam or security filters.
- Has its visibility limited because of your audience targeting settings.
- Is hidden from your Page’s timeline because you posted it specifically to a Group.
Check your post insights and try broadening your targeting to see if more people can view and translate your post.
How to troubleshoot untranslated Facebook posts
If your Facebook posts still aren’t getting translated for some reason, here are some steps to help troubleshoot:
- Confirm translation settings are on: Double check that you have translation enabled for your Page and account as covered above.
- Check post language detection: When you publish a post, click the three dots in the top right and select ” translate this post.” See if Facebook accurately detects the post language.
- Try a simple text post: Publish a test post that’s just one or two sentences of plain text in your native language. Check if this simple post translates properly.
- Ask viewers if they see a translation: When your post doesn’t seem to translate, ask a friend who speaks another language if they see your post in translation when viewing your Page.
- Check post insights: In your post insights, see if it shows any info about how many people saw the translated version vs your original.
- Report issues to Facebook: If a post translation still seems wrong, use the “Give Feedback” option to report it to Facebook’s translation team.
With some targeted troubleshooting, you should be able to get to the bottom of why your Facebook posts aren’t translating and find the best solution.
Tips for successful translation of Facebook posts
Here are some tips to help make sure your Facebook posts successfully translate across languages:
- Stick to one language per post. Don’t mix multiple languages in the same post.
- Avoid slang, idioms, and niche vocabulary the translator may not recognize.
- Write short, clear sentences whenever possible to simplify translating.
- Use text-focused posts instead of relying on visuals that won’t translate.
- Proofread posts carefully before publishing to prevent awkward translations of typos.
- Enable comments on your translated posts to let readers report issues.
Taking steps like these will optimize your content for Facebook’s translation engine and ensure your different audiences have the best experience.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about translating Facebook posts:
How long does it take Facebook to translate a post?
Facebook usually translates posts automatically in real-time as viewers load your post in their preferred language. However, it can sometimes take up to 24 hours for translations to process.
Can I manually translate a post instead?
Yes, you can manually translate posts by clicking “See Translation” and selecting “Translate this Post” when creating a post. This will let you fully control the translations.
Will link previews and tags translate?
Any text elements in your post will translate, including link titles, descriptions, and tag text. However, the destination URL will not convert to a viewer’s language.
Can I exclude countries/regions from translation?
Currently Facebook does not allow excluding specific regions from translations. You either enable it for your whole Page or not at all.
Do I need to translate my Page name and bio?
Page name and bio do not automatically translate. You need to manually update these sections for each language your Page supports.
Conclusion
Untranslated Facebook posts mean you’re missing out on connecting with your full potential audience across different languages. With Facebook’s built-in translation capabilities, you can share your content around the world and be understood by more people. Focus on creating engaging text-based posts, simplifying your language, and properly configuring translation settings. This will get your message across language barriers and help grow a diverse global community.