• LOCAL
  • CLOUD
  • LISTS
  • HUMAN

How to manage translation files with your AI

Connect Phrase to your AI client to keep your local files and cloud translations in sync without manual exports.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I sync my translation files using AI?

Your AI uses the Phrase MCP to pull translation lists, download updated files to your machine, or upload new ones directly to the platform. This keeps your local dev environment and Phrase perfectly aligned. You'll see how the data flows below.

Sync outcomes

Where your translation data lands.

The AI moves data between your local workspace and the Phrase cloud.

LOCAL

Updated files on disk

The AI pulls the latest translations from Phrase and saves them to your local directory. You get the exact files your code needs to run.

CLOUD

Phrase project updates

New strings or modified files move from your machine to Phrase. Your cloud project stays current with your latest code changes.

LISTS

Translation inventory

The AI fetches a list of all available translations. You can use this to audit what's missing or what's ready for review.

HUMAN

Final linguistic review

The AI handles the file movement, but you still decide which translations are accurate. You retain full control over the actual language content.

The workflow

What your AI does when the files arrive.

The AI acts as the bridge between your terminal and the Phrase API.

  1. Fetch translation data

    The AI looks up what translations currently exist in your Phrase project to understand the current state.

    list_translations

  2. Pull files to local

    When you need to work on a specific language, the AI grabs the file from the cloud and puts it in your workspace.

    download_file

  3. Push changes to cloud

    Once you've updated your local files, the AI sends them back to Phrase to update the project.

    upload_file

  4. Verify sync status

    The AI checks the translation lists again to confirm the uploaded files match the expected project state.

    list_translations

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to trigger the connection between your AI and Phrase.

Starting points

Swap out the bracketed text with your specific project names or file paths.

Phrase Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_CJZRjLhtihKrxCXUYOiAYLM4LrqyL5BaMjmw2ggp/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — Phrase capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "phrase-software-localization-api-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_CJZRjLhtihKrxCXUYOiAYLM4LrqyL5BaMjmw2ggp/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • List all the translations in my 'MobileApp' project in Phrase.

  • Download the latest 'en-US.json' translation file from Phrase to my current folder.

  • Upload my updated 'es-ES.json' file to the 'WebPortal' project in Phrase.

  • Check the translation list for 'MarketingSite' to see if the French files are ready.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect Phrase once, then ask.

Just link your Phrase account once. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can immediately start managing files through your AI client.

Connect Phrase to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves.

  • 01

    Can the AI edit the text inside my translation files?

    No. The AI moves the files and manages the lists, but it does not rewrite the actual translated strings inside the files.

  • 02

    Will the AI delete my translation files in Phrase?

    No. The available tools only allow for listing, uploading, and downloading files.

  • 03

    Can I use this to create new translation keys?

    No. The AI can upload files containing new keys, but it cannot create individual keys one by one through the API.

  • 04

    Does the AI handle the translation itself?

    No. The AI manages the file synchronization. You or your translators provide the actual language content.

  • 05

    How does the AI know which file to download?

    You tell the AI which file you need, and it uses the download tool to fetch that specific file from your Phrase project.

  • More questions about Phrase? See everything the Phrase Connector can do

Connect Phrase to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more