Enabling Language Interpretation

Users that would like to include interpreters in their meetings or webinars now have the ability to enable Language Interpretation. This allows the host to designate up to 20 participants as interpreters on the web portal or during a Zoom session. 

When enabled, the host can start the interpretation feature which will allow the interpreters to provide their own audio channels for the language they are translating to. Attendees can then select the audio channel to hear the translated audio in their language of choice, as well as the option to mute the original audio instead of hearing it at a lower volume in their chosen language.  

Learn more about using Language Interpretation in meetings and webinars.

This article contains: 

• How to enable or disable Language Interpretation
  • Account
  • Group
  • User
• How to select languages to be available with Language Interpretation

Prerequisites for enabling Language Interpretation

• A Pro, Business, Education, or Enterprise account

How to enable or disable Language Interpretation

Account

To enable or disable Language Interpretation for all users in the account:

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an admin with the privilege to edit account settings.
2. In the navigation menu, click Account Management then Account Settings.
3. Click the Meeting tab.
4. Under In Meeting (Advanced), click the Language Interpretation toggle to enable or disable it.
5. If a verification dialog displays, click Enable or Disable to verify the change.
6. (Optional) If you want to make this setting mandatory for all users in your account, click the lock icon , and then click Lock to confirm the setting.
7. (Optional) Select the Enable language interpretation by default check box.
   The Language Interpretation will be enabled as a default setting for all scheduled meetings from the account level.
8. (Optional) Select the Allow participants to speak in listening channel check box. Disable this setting if you want to prevent participants from speaking to a channel during interpretation, for example to prevent hearing echo in the listening channel. To have this feature available, submit a request to Zoom Support. 
9. (Optional) Select the Allow up to 25 custom languages when scheduling meetings check box to allow hosts to include up to 25 languages for interpretation when scheduling a meeting or webinar. This option is only available if you also selected Enable language interpretation by default, and requires users to be on client version 5.11.2 or higher. To have this feature available, submit a request to Zoom Support. 

Group

To enable or disable Language Interpretation for a group of users:

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an admin with the privilege to edit groups.
2. In the navigation menu, click User Management then Group Management.
3. Click the applicable group name from the list.
4. Click the Meeting tab.
5. Under In Meeting (Advanced), click the Language Interpretation toggle to enable or disable it.
6. If a verification dialog displays, click Enable or Disable to verify the change.
   Note: If the option is grayed out, it has been locked at the account level and needs to be changed at that level.
7. (Optional) If you want to make this setting mandatory for all users in the group, click the lock icon , and then click Lock to confirm the setting.
8. (Optional) Select the Enable language interpretation by default check box.
   The Language Interpretation will be enabled as a default setting for all scheduled meetings from the group level.
9. (Optional) Select the Allow participants to speak in listening channel check box. Disable this setting if you want to prevent participants from speaking to a channel during interpretation, for example to prevent hearing echo in the listening channel. To have this feature available, submit a request to Zoom Support. 
10. (Optional) Select the Allow up to 25 custom languages when scheduling meetings check box to allow hosts to include up to 25 languages for interpretation when scheduling a meeting or webinar. This option is only available if you also selected Enable language interpretation by default, and requires users to be on client version 5.11.2 or higher. To have this feature available, submit a request to Zoom Support. 

User

To enable or disable Language Interpretation for your own use:

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
2. In the navigation panel, click Settings.
3. Click the Meeting tab.
4. UnderIn Meeting (Advanced), click the Language Interpretation toggle to enable or disable it.
5. If a verification dialog displays, click Enable or Disable to verify the change.
   Note: If the option is grayed out, it has been locked at either the group or account level. You need to contact your Zoom admin.
6. (Optional) Select the Enable language interpretation by default check box.
   The Language Interpretation will be enabled as a default setting for all scheduled meetings from the user level.
7. (Optional) Select the Allow participants to speak in listening channel check box. Disable this setting if you want to prevent participants from speaking to a channel during interpretation, for example to prevent hearing echo in the listening channel. To have this feature available, submit a request to Zoom Support. 
8. (Optional) Select the Allow up to 25 custom languages when scheduling meetings check box to allow hosts to include up to 25 languages for interpretation when scheduling a meeting or webinar. This option is only available if you also selected Enable language interpretation by default, and requires users to be on client version 5.11.2 or higher. To have this feature available, submit a request to Zoom Support. 

How to select languages to be available with Language Interpretation

Once Language Interpretation is enabled at the account, group, or user level, you can select or add languages.

1. Once enabled, the following default 9 languages will be displayed: 
   
   • English
   • Chinese
   • Japanese
   • German
   • French
   • Russian
   • Portuguese
   • Spanish
   • Korean
2. Click the plus sign (+) symbol to add more languages.
3. Under Add Language, enter the name of the language you want to add.
4. Select the language in the drop-down menu.
5. Click Add.
   Once added, the language will be in your list of languages when scheduling a meeting or webinar.
   Note: While there is no limit to how many languages you can add to this list, you can only include up to 5 custom languages in a meeting or webinar by default. To include up to 25 custom languages, submit a request to Zoom Support.