The short answer: In the TikTok app, press and hold a comment and tap the translate option in the menu, or tap See translation under a video’s caption. TikTok translates into one language set in its settings, doesn’t offer translation on every video, and doesn’t help you write back in another language. Swift Translate covers those gaps: a floating bubble on Android, and Swift Translate Keyboard on iPhone.

How to translate comments on TikTok

The steps are the same on Android and iPhone.

Open the video and tap the comments button on the side of the video.
Press and hold the comment you want to read.
In the menu that opens, tap the translate option.

The comment changes to the language your TikTok app is set to. If you want translations in a different language, change the setting below.

Translate a video’s caption

The caption is the text under the video. Tap See translation under it. The caption changes to the translation, and the link becomes See original. Tap See original to go back.

Turn on captions (subtitles)

Captions show what people say in the video. You can only turn them on if the video has them.

Tap the share button.
Tap Captions.
Turn on Show captions.

You can also press and hold an empty part of the video and choose the captions option from the menu that opens. TikTok translates captions only on some videos.

Choose the language TikTok translates into

TikTok shows translations in your app’s language. To change it:

Tap Profile, then the menu button (☰) at the top.
Tap Settings and privacy, then Language.
Tap App language, choose a language and tap Done.

On the same Language screen, you can also choose the language TikTok translates into.

Comments in a LIVE

TikTok’s help pages describe a Translate option for LIVE comments. Tap the comment, then tap Translate. Only you see the translation, and tapping the comment again shows the original. It works only in the TikTok app. TikTok describes it for the people who run the LIVE, so you may not see it as a viewer.

On a computer

On tiktok.com, you can click See translation under a video’s caption. The website has no translate option on comments.

Why can’t I translate TikTok comments? Reasons and fixes

TikTok’s help pages describe translation for LIVE comments, but not for comments on regular videos. So TikTok doesn’t say when the option should appear, or why it might not. If the translate option isn’t showing, or it worked before and now it’s gone, check these in order.

You’re on tiktok.com. The website translates captions, but not comments. Open the video in the TikTok app instead.
The comment is already in your app’s language. TikTok translates into the language your app is set to. A comment in that language has nothing to translate. If you want to read comments in a different language, change App language (steps above).
Your TikTok app is out of date. TikTok’s own troubleshooting starts with updating the app. Update TikTok from your phone’s app store, then open the comments again.
TikTok doesn’t translate that language or that video. TikTok doesn’t say it translates every video or every language, and it doesn’t publish a current list. There’s no setting that turns it on.
The option has disappeared for you. Many people report that the translate option has vanished from their comments and captions, sometimes for days. TikTok hasn’t said why. Update the app, check your Language settings, and report it to TikTok from Settings and privacy.
For captions: the video doesn’t have any. TikTok can only show or translate captions when the video has them.

If none of this brings the option back, you can still read the comment. Swift Translate reads it whether or not TikTok shows a translate option (see below).

What TikTok’s translate doesn’t do

TikTok’s own translation is useful when it’s there. It also has clear limits:

One language at a time. It translates into the one language set in TikTok. To read in a different language, you have to change TikTok’s settings first.
Nothing for what you write. TikTok doesn’t offer a way to translate a comment or a reply you type.
Not everywhere. It isn’t offered on every video or in every language, and the option can go missing.
Not on the website. tiktok.com has no translate option on comments.

If TikTok shows the translate option on the comments you want, and your app’s language is the one you want to read in, TikTok’s own feature is all you need. Swift Translate is for everything else.

Translate any TikTok comment with Swift Translate

On Android: the floating bubble

Swift Translate puts a small floating bubble on your screen. In TikTok, drag it onto a comment, a video’s caption or someone’s bio. A translation card appears next to the text.

It works whether or not TikTok shows a translate option.
It finds the language of the text by itself.
It translates into the language you chose as yours, from more than 100 languages, without changing anything in TikTok.

Tap the card to see the original and the translation together, each with a copy button. Swift Translate users translate more than 1.4 million TikTok texts a month this way. The same bubble works in your other apps too: see the screen translator.

Write your comment in their language

Tap TikTok’s comment box and type your comment in your own language.
Drag the bubble onto what you wrote.
Check the translation on the card, then send it.

Your comment goes out in the language you chose for them. This is how you join the conversation under a Korean, Spanish or Arabic video instead of only reading it. More on the TikTok translator.

On iPhone: Swift Translate Keyboard

To write: in TikTok’s comment box, switch to the Swift Translate keyboard. Type your comment and tap Translate. Your text changes to the language you chose for them, ready to post.
To read: after a one-time setup, double-tap the back of your iPhone. You get a picture of your screen with its text in your language, shown over TikTok. It’s a still picture, so double-tap again for the next screen.

See Swift Translate Keyboard for iPhone.

FAQ

Can TikTok translate comments?

Yes, in the TikTok app. Press and hold a comment and tap the translate option in the menu. It isn’t offered on every video or in every language, and the website has no translate option on comments.

Why did the translate option disappear on TikTok?

Many people have reported it going missing, sometimes for days. TikTok hasn’t explained why. Update the app, check Settings and privacy → Language, and report it to TikTok from Settings and privacy if it stays gone.

How do I turn on translation on TikTok?

You don’t need to turn anything on to translate one comment: press and hold it and tap the translate option. To choose the language TikTok translates into, go to Settings and privacy → Language.

Can TikTok translate captions?

Yes, on some videos. For the text under a video, tap See translation. For spoken words, turn on captions with the share button → Captions → Show captions. TikTok translates those captions only on some videos.

How do I translate TikTok comments to English?

Set TikTok’s app language to English: Profile → ☰ → Settings and privacy → Language → App language. Check the translation language on the same Language screen too. With Swift Translate on Android, set English as your language and drag the bubble onto any comment.

Can I write a TikTok comment in another language?

TikTok doesn’t offer a way to do that. On Android, type your comment, drag the Swift Translate bubble onto it and send the translation. On iPhone, type with Swift Translate Keyboard and tap Translate before you post.

How to Translate Comments on TikTok (and Captions)