---
title: "Translate a content item with AI"
slug: "translate-a-content-item-with-ai"
abstract: "Translate a content item into one of the languages supported by the site using SitecoreAI."
---

# Translate a content item with AI

You can translate individual content items into multiple languages in SitecoreAI. Translating a single content item in Content mode gives content authors more control and flexibility when localising content, without forcing page or site‑wide translation. This is especially useful for incremental changes, late edits, or content that changes frequently.

In addition, content item translation is designed to work across multiple item types, not only pages. From Content mode, authors can translate pages, data source items, dictionary items, and design‑related items where supported. This enables localisation work that is not tied to a page‑level workflow.

> [!note]
> _Write_ and _Language write_ [access rights](https://doc.sitecore.com/xmc/en/developers/xm-cloud/en/the-access-rights.html) are needed for the translation of the content item to be available.

To translate a content item, you must choose the page’s source language and one or more target languages. When you translate a content item, SitecoreAI creates a new language version for the selected item in the target language.

![The Item translator UI in Content mode](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/sai/en/users/sitecoreai/images/PBtranslateitem.png)

To translate a content item:

1. In the Page builder, open the site where the content you want to translate exists in **Content** mode.
2. In the left-hand panel **Content tree** , for the item you want to translate, click **Actions:mdiDotsHorizontal:** > **Translate** :mdiTranslate:.

   Alternatively, in the language drop-down menu, click **Translate** :mdiTranslate:.

3. In the **Item translator** context panel, you can enable the **Keep workflow state** option if you want translated items to inherit the workflow state of the source item:
    - with the option unchecked (recommended), the translated item starts in the initial workflow state, typically *Draft*. This ensures that translated content goes through the required review and approval process before it can be published.
    - with the option checked, the translated item keeps the same workflow state as the source item. For example, if the source item is in the *Approved* state, the translated item will also be *Approved* and may become publishable immediately.
4. Use the drop down menu to select the source language. When possible, choose a source language that is close to the target language to increase the chances of a higher-quality AI translation.
5. For the target language, click **Translate** for the languages that you want a new translation for. For languages that already have a language version (previously AI-generated or manually created), click **Retranslate** :mdiRefresh:.
6. If the language you want to translate the page is not in the list, click **Enable more languages**, and use the drop down menu to add languages to your site. Back in the Page builder, click **Reload** :mdiCached: to see the newly added languages in the list of the **Item translator** context panel.
7. When the translation is done, click **View content** to open the translated content item in the canvas.