Translation Workbench
A Salesforce setup tool that manages the translation of custom labels, picklist values, field names, page layouts, and other customizable text into multiple languages for organizations with multilingual users.
Definition
A Salesforce setup tool that manages the translation of custom labels, picklist values, field names, page layouts, and other customizable text into multiple languages for organizations with multilingual users.
In plain English
“Translation Workbench is a Salesforce setup tool for translating custom labels, picklist values, field names, page layouts, and other customizable text into multiple languages. It's how you localize your Salesforce org for users who work in different languages.”
Worked example
Zephyr Books, a global book retailer, has Salesforce users in 14 countries. The admin uses the Translation Workbench to translate custom field labels, picklist values, page section headers, and validation-rule error messages into French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Mandarin, and Korean. Each user sees the org in their preferred language based on their Locale setting; the translations come from the Translation Workbench's master translation file. When the admin adds a new custom field Wholesale Tier, she also adds the translations in seven languages so global users see it in their own language. The Translation Workbench is the centralized localization toolset.
Why Translation Workbench matters
Translation Workbench is a Salesforce setup tool that manages the translation of custom labels, picklist values, field names, page layouts, and other customizable text into multiple languages, enabling multi-language Salesforce deployments for global organizations.
Translation Workbench is essential for any Salesforce org serving users in multiple languages. Administrators or translators use it to provide translations for every piece of customized text, ensuring users see Salesforce in their preferred language. Mature multi-language deployments invest in translation management as ongoing work since new customizations need translations.
How to set up Translation Workbench
Translation Workbench is the i18n tooling for Salesforce — translates Custom Labels, picklist values, field labels, and validation rule messages into supported languages. Without it, your UI is stuck in the org's default language.
- Open Setup → Translation Workbench → Translation Settings → Enable
First-time enablement. Pick the org's translatable languages.
- Setup → Translation Workbench → Supported Languages → Add
Multi-select languages your org supports — French, Spanish, German, Japanese, etc.
- Assign Translators per language
Translation Workbench → Translators → assign users by language. Each translator can edit only their language.
- Open the Translation Workbench Translate page
Setup → Translation Workbench → Translate.
- Pick the Language and Setup Component
Component: Custom Field, Picklist Value, Custom Label, Validation Rule Message, etc. Each component type has its own translatable strings.
- For each row, type the translation
Or import a translation file (XLF format). Inline editing is fine for small orgs; XLF round-trip for large ones.
- Save
Translations are stored. Users with the language set as their personal language now see the translated UI.
Up to 50+ supported languages. Each adds a translator dimension.
Custom Fields / Custom Labels / Picklist Values / Validation Rule Messages / Layouts (sections) / Standard Field Help Text / etc.
Inline for small orgs; XLF for translator workflows.
Users authorized to edit translations for a specific language. Read-only otherwise.
- Hard-coded UI strings (in Apex / LWC) can't be translated by Translation Workbench. Use Custom Labels for any string a user might see.
- Picklist Translation hides the original value from the user but stores it under the original. Reports built on picklist values still show the API name unless the report is run by a translator-language user.
- Translation Workbench is org-wide. Per-Experience-Cloud-site translation requires a separate config on the Experience site itself.
How organizations use Translation Workbench
Uses Translation Workbench to maintain their org in 12 languages.
Treats translation as ongoing work with every new customization needing translations.
Assigns translation responsibility to regional admins through Translation Workbench.
Trust & references
Straight from the source - Salesforce's reference material on Translation Workbench.
- Translation WorkbenchSalesforce Help
- Enable or Disable Translation WorkbenchSalesforce Help
🧠 Test your knowledge
Q1. What is Translation Workbench?
Q2. What can be translated?
Q3. Is translation a one-time task?
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