Grouped by topic below, each with a link to the full answer. If your question isn't here, try Troubleshooting or ask on Discord.
About the site#
What is RandomTranslator?#
RandomTranslator AI-translates Chinese web novels into English, chapter by chapter, and keeps a per-novel glossary so names and terms stay consistent across thousands of chapters. Every novel also gets a community: ratings, reviews, comments and a leaderboard. See Help.
Are translations made by humans?#
No. Every chapter is translated by an AI model against the novel's glossary; you can rate a chapter or retranslate one that reads badly. See What's Free and What's Paid.
Is there an app?#
Yes. RandomTranslator installs straight from your browser on iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac and desktop Chrome or Edge, with no app store, and the installed app is where offline reading lives. See The App and Offline Reading. For listening on the go, Narratorr is a separate companion app our read-aloud player links to.
Reading#
Can I read past chapter 50 for free?#
Yes. Chapters 1–50 are AI-translated for everyone; past 50, free and signed-out readers get a Google Translate version made on our servers with the novel's glossary, even where an AI translation exists. See AI translation past chapter 50.
What's the difference between AI translation and Google Translate?#
AI translation is our own system, translating against the novel's glossary; Google Translate keeps the glossary's names but its wording and pronouns come out rougher. See Google Translate chapters.
Why is a chapter showing in Google Translate instead of AI translation?#
You're reading past chapter 50 without a Patreon membership. Reader or higher gets AI translation on every chapter, with nothing to switch. See Tiers.
Why does a Google Translate chapter say "Try again shortly"?#
Many chapters are being translated at once; select Check again and it usually works within a few seconds. See Troubleshooting.
Why is my novel a preview instead of the full novel?#
The Preview switch on the Request page is on by default, and a preview fetches only the first 50 chapters. Upgrade in the novel's menu gets the rest, priced by the novel's size: see what a request costs.
Why does scrolling feel less smooth than it should on my iPhone?#
Safari caps web pages, and apps added from Safari, at 60 frames per second by default. The fix is a Safari setting: see Smoother scrolling.
Why did my theme or display settings reset?#
Display settings are saved in your browser, not your account, so clearing site data resets them and they don't follow you to another device. See Display Settings.
Translation quality#
The translation quality seems off. What can I do?#
With the Reader membership or higher, use Retranslate to rerun the chapter with the current glossary, or give it a thumbs-down, which files a report for the moderation team. See Retranslating a chapter.
Why is a character's name different in earlier chapters?#
An approved rename is substituted into older chapters too; if one still shows the old name, the rename may be awaiting review or the chapter uses a variant spelling. See Renaming a term.
Why was my glossary edit rejected?#
Edits from non-moderators are reviewed by a moderator, or RandomLord (Bot) if no moderator gets to it first, and you're notified either way; your own name still applies for you as a personal translation. See Editing Terms.
Requests and sources#
Why can't I request more novels?#
Requesting a full novel needs the Reader membership or higher, and every tier has a monthly allowance; a free account can preview 1 novel a month. See Limits.
How do I know if a source site is working?#
The Sources section of the status page shows each site's current status and its last 90 days. See Supported Sources.
Glossary and wikis#
How does the glossary keep names consistent?#
Every novel has its own glossary; when a chapter translates, the AI uses known entries and adds new ones. See The Glossary.
Can I set my own name for a character?#
Yes, with the Reader membership or higher: type it in the term's Your Translation field, and it applies instantly, only for you. See Your own names.
Who can generate wikis?#
Generating a wiki needs the Translator: Base membership or higher, with a monthly allowance; anyone can read one. See Wikis and Recaps.
Account and Patreon#
How do I create an account?#
Select Sign in with Patreon; a paid membership isn't required, and a free account already gives you bookmarks, reading history and community features. See Signing in.
I subscribed on Patreon but my tier benefits aren't showing up.#
Sign in with the same Patreon account you subscribed with. Changes to your pledge apply within a minute or two; if they don't, sign out and back in, and if it still looks wrong, tell us on Discord.
Why was I logged out?#
Your session lasts 30 days and renews while you're active, so it usually expired or your browser cleared its data. See I was logged out.
Can I use RandomTranslator from Claude, ChatGPT or my own code?#
Yes, with any signed-in account, free ones included: add the connector to your AI app, or create a personal API key. Neither returns chapter text, and nothing they do spends your daily chapters. See Claude, ChatGPT and AI Apps.
Community#
How do I report a bug or a problem with a novel?#
Use Report in the novel's more menu for that novel, or Discord for anything else. See Contact us.
Can I get notified about new chapters or new novels?#
Yes, for free: bookmark a novel for the daily chapter digest, or save a Browse search with Notify me. See Library and Notifications.
How do XP and levels work?#
Reading each day, accepted glossary corrections and approved novel reports earn XP, which sets your level; reviews count toward achievements but not XP. See Levels and Achievements.