How to Use the LibreTranslate API MCP in VS Code Copilot

Q: How do I set up the LibreTranslate API for my team in VS Code Copilot?

Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your repository and define the MCP Server configuration. Commit this file to Git so every developer on your team automatically gets access to the translation tools.

Q: Can I restrict which languages are translated in VS Code Copilot?

You can use listsupportedlanguages to see which language pairs your LibreTranslate instance supports. Copilot will only attempt translations that are supported by your server.

Translate files and detect languages across your team with VS Code Copilot and the LibreTranslate API MCP Server.

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Connect LibreTranslate API MCP to VS Code Copilot

Create your Vinkius account to connect LibreTranslate API to VS Code Copilot and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup LibreTranslate API with VS Code Copilot

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Translate files directly inside VS Code Copilot

The `translate_text` tool gives your team the power to translate markdown documentation, JSON localization keys, and source files directly in the chat panel. Instead of relying on web-based translation tools, your developer agent translates files inline using your team's self-hosted translation server. This ensures team-wide consistency across multi-language projects. Copilot reads the file context, calls the translation tool, and updates the workspace files without manual copy-pasting.

Detect file languages automatically in VS Code

The `detect_language` tool identifies the language of any selected text block or file content. When your team works with multi-lingual datasets or localized assets, Copilot uses this tool to classify incoming text strings before processing them. The tool returns the ISO language codes directly to your agent. This lets Copilot dynamically branch its code generation or documentation steps based on the detected language of the file.

Verify API availability inside your VS Code workspace

The `check_api_status` tool checks if your team's translation endpoint is active before running automated scripts on the MCP Server. If your self-hosted server experiences downtime, Copilot alerts you immediately instead of failing silently during a translation run. This status check is critical for continuous integration and team development. It ensures your workspace tools are fully operational before developers begin localizing large batches of user-facing strings.

Setup guide

Set up LibreTranslate API MCP in VS Code Copilot

Prerequisites

VS Code 1.99 or later with GitHub Copilot extension
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P) and run "MCP: Add Server". Select HTTP (Streamable) as the server type. VS Code will create .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace.
2

Add the LibreTranslate API MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into your .vscode/mcp.json. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Switch to Agent mode

Open Copilot Chat (Cmd+Shift+I / Ctrl+Shift+I) and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode — they do not appear in Edit or Ask modes.
4

Verify the connection

In the Copilot Chat input, type # to list available tools. You should see the LibreTranslate API tools listed. Try asking: "List my recent LibreTranslate API transactions" and Copilot will invoke them automatically.

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "libretranslate-api-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by LibreTranslate. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about LibreTranslate API MCP in VS Code Copilot

Create a `.vscode/mcp.json` file in your repository and define the MCP Server configuration. Commit this file to Git so every developer on your team automatically gets access to the translation tools.

It depends on where your LibreTranslate instance is hosted. If you run a local instance or host it on an intranet server, Copilot can perform translations entirely offline.

You can use `list_supported_languages` to see which language pairs your LibreTranslate instance supports. Copilot will only attempt translations that are supported by your server.

Yes, the translation tool handles different text formats. You can specify the format parameter when sending text blocks to preserve your Markdown or HTML syntax.

This MCP Server sends all text strings and language metadata directly to your configured LibreTranslate endpoint. If you host the API on your own secure infrastructure, your translation data never touches external networks or third-party servers.

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