How to activate Skype Translator

6 october 2015 at 16:15 13 comments Windows, Secrets

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Recently was released version 7.12.0.101 of Skype for Windows and it contains a very interesting and useful feature — the Skype Translator, which can translate the messages and caller's voice. Unfortunately, this feature is still not available to all users — update wave should reach all users in the coming weeks.

But, as promised, I will tell you how to speed up this process and will teach you how to activate Skype Translator. Of course, before you start reading this article, upgrade Skype to 7.12.0.101 version — it is possible that the translator is already included, and you can skip these instructions on how to activate it.

So, the answer to the main question — there is how to activate translator Skype:

Install Skype 7.12.0.101 for Windows
Run Skype and open a chat with anyone from your contact list. In principle, it could be a group chat — the main thing that you have the opportunity to write messages in this chat.
Send the following message: /setupkey UI/Ecs/Features/Translator/Enabled 1
This is a special command and your interlocutor does not see it. As a result, you will get the message «setupkey: [UI/Ecs/Features/Translator/Enabled] now '1'». If you do not receive this message, seems you made a mistake — make sure you have copied the entire command, and there are no spaces before or after it.
Press the key combination Win and R then enter command taskkill /IM skype.exe /F
After that, the work of Skype will be forcibly terminated. I will not go into details, but it is important to close the program in that way, otherwise nothing will happen.
Now launch Skype, go to the interlocutor whom you want to send a translated message. You will see the following message:

Speak with anyone. Now you can translate calls and messages.

I tested these instructions on different accounts on operating systems such as Windows XP, Windows 7, and Windows 10 — Skype Translator becomes activated everywhere. After that, in Skype settings you have a new option which enable or disable the translator. This parameter can be found at Tools → Settings → General → Skype Translator.

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13 comments

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DanVM (karma: +17), 13 october 2015 at 14:39 #

Didn't work for me. Everything proceeded as described but I was left with no new Skype Translator option.

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  DanVM (karma: +17), 13 october 2015 at 15:14 # ↑
  
  I just discovered that this procedure works for Windows 10 but not Windows 8 machines.
  
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  Administrator (karma: +1207), 13 october 2015 at 15:28 # ↑
  
  Very strange, that it does not works on Windows 8. As I said, this should work on Windows XP, 7 and 10, but I could never think that it will not work on Windows 8. I have even not know what to say or suggest.
  
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    DanVM (karma: +17), 13 october 2015 at 15:43 # ↑
    
    Hmmm.... I just tried it on a Windows 7 machine and it didn't work either. The commonality between the Windows 7 & Window 8 machines is that they are on a domain. The Windows 10 machine I tried it on is not on a domain and it worked without issue.
    
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      Administrator (karma: +1207), 13 october 2015 at 15:53 # ↑
      
      Interesting... Try this:
      1) Log out from all accounts
      2) Launch Skype on machine which is out of domain
      3) For reliability, execute Skype command /remotelogout
      4) Enable Translator using instructions above
      5) Launch Skype on machine which is on a domain. Does the Translator has been activated on this one?
      
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        DanVM (karma: +17), 13 october 2015 at 15:59 # ↑
        
        That didn't help. I'll do some more testing but also want to comment on the fact that our domain is based on Windows Server 2003. It is being updated very soon but I can't even access the Windows Store because of the fact that it will only work on newer versions of Windows Server.
        
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        DanVM (karma: +17), 13 october 2015 at 16:06 # ↑
        
        Now it's not even on my Windows 10 machine! I'm at a loss...
        
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        Administrator (karma: +1207), 13 october 2015 at 16:24 # ↑
        
        Sorry, but I don't know how to help you and I do not have the opportunity to test it according to your configuration. Visit the Skype community and try to ask them about your issue and which limits/restrictions have Skype Translator.
        
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DanVM (karma: +17), 13 october 2015 at 20:46 #
Here's a workaround (though not ideal). Worked for me on all my machines:

You can self enable this option by editing your config.xml file. However, as it works now, you will have to redo the changes every time you reboot your computer. The solution is thus only temporary.

Quit Skype (no Skype instances should be running, even in the background).

Go to Windows Start and in the Search/Run box type %appdata%\skype and then press Enter or OK button. Windows File Explorer will pop up. Find now the folder named as your Skype account. Open this folder. You will find there the config.xml file. You may see only config but with XML Document in the Type column.

Open this config.xml file in any text editor (e.g. Notepad). Find there a section starting with
. It should look something like this:
```
<Ecs>
  <Features>
    <Spaces>
      <CreateShare>
        <Enabled>0</Enabled>
      </CreateShare>
    </Spaces>
    <Translator>
      <Enabled>0</Enabled>
    </Translator>
  </Features>
</Ecs>
```
In the section <Translator>code> change the value of <Enabled>0</Enabled> to <Enabled>1</Enabled>.

Save the changes and close the text editor.

Restart Skype. You should see now the Translator option in Tools -> Options.
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  Administrator (karma: +1207), 16 october 2015 at 09:19 # ↑
  
  Hi! My instructions should do the same thing as your, but I can't understand why it does not work for you. Anyway, thank you very much for sharing — hope it will help to others.
  
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  SOLO SOLO (karma: 0), 11 november 2015 at 07:27 # ↑
  
  THis one worked for me the other one with commands didnt worked! /setupkey UI/Ecs/Features/Translator/Enabled 1
  
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Miacova (karma: +6), 20 december 2015 at 20:07 #

It appears that the translator feature is activated per account. I can log in using my account on my wife's computer and the feature is enabled, but I log out and then log in as her account and the feature is no longer available (the globe icon is not in the message pane, and the option does not exist under General options).

I too have tried both the method of sending the message /setupkey UI/Ecs/Features/Translator/Enabled 1 and verified that the config.xml contains the line <Enabled>1</Enabled> under Features/Translator.

I'm at a loss why this is not working.

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  Administrator (karma: +1207), 22 december 2015 at 05:24 # ↑
  
  It's true. Translator is activated per account. Moreover, these instructions does not work any more for all accounts. You must wait until Translator will be enabled for your account (this will be done automatically and you will receive a hint).
  
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