Create a project in Smartcat

Overview

A project in Smartcat is the container for all your translation work. It holds your source files, defines your language pairs, sets your deadline, and organizes the tasks that move your content from source to target language. Creating a project is the first step in any translation workflow.

This article walks you through creating a project in Smartcat, from accessing the project creation screen to configuring your settings.

When to use it

• You have content that needs to be translated into one or more languages

• You are starting a new translation initiative and need to organize files and tasks

• You want to set up a project structure before uploading files or assigning translators

How to create a project

Access the project creation screen

1. Open the left sidebar navigation and click Projects.

   

2. Click + New project in the upper-right corner.

You can also select the translator agent from your homepage to start a new project quickly.

Configure your project settings

1. Select a template (not required). To use a premade template, either one you created or one of Smartcat's defaults, click the Change template button at the top right of the page. You can also create a new template from here.

   

2. Enter a project name

3. Use a descriptive name that includes the content type and date (for example, "Marketing Brochure - July 2026"). Clear naming helps you find projects later and keeps your workspace organized

4. The project name field is empty by default. If you don't provide a name and don't upload any files, it is automatically named "New project" after clicking Create project. If that name is already taken, a number is be added.

5. If you don't provide a name but upload files, Smartcat will automatically name it "Project: name of the first file without extension". If that name is already taken, a number is added.

6. Set a deadline (optional)

7. Choose a realistic deadline so team members can plan their work

8. The deadline appears on task assignments and helps track project progress

9. Select your source language. This is the language of your original content and you can only select one source language per project.

10. Select your target language(s). Choose one or more languages to translate into — you can add multiple target languages to translate your content simultaneously. Languages not supported by AI translation are shown in gray

11. Upload files (not required). Upload files to be translated here. You can also add files at later stages of the project.

12. Additional settings. Open this menu to customize your project workflow. Options include:

13. Manual stage selection - select any set of stages independently and manage their order.

14. AI translation and review (the default) - Get high-quality AI translation in seconds. Edit the results yourself or collaborate with teammates or linguists.

15. Manual translation - Invite teammates to translate, or hire professional translators from the Marketplace.

16. Translation → Editing - Invite teammates to translate and edit, or hire professional translators and editors from the Marketplace.

17. Translation → Editing → Proofreading - Invite teammates to translate, edit, and proofread, or hire professional translators, editors, and proofreaders from the Marketplace.

18. Click Create project at the bottom of the workflow. Once your project is created, you can upload linguistic resources, assign tasks to team members and freelancers, and control other settings.

FAQ

Can I change the project name or deadline after creating the project?

Yes. You can edit project settings at any time from the project dashboard.

Can I add more target languages after creating the project?

Yes. You can add additional target languages to an existing project from the project settings.

Can I delete a language from a multilingual project?

You can delete target languages from the project settings, as long as you have not assigned any tasks for those language pairs.

What happens if I don't set a deadline?

The project is still created, but teammates do not have a target completion date. Setting a deadline is recommended for better project management.

Is there a limit to how many target languages I can add?

Smartcat supports translation into multiple languages simultaneously. There is no practical limit for most use cases.

Can I upload a folder of files at once?

Smartcat doesn't have a native folder picker, but you can upload a whole folder by compressing it into a ZIP archive first.

How it works:

1. Compress your folder into a .zip file.

2. Upload the ZIP during project creation in the new-project wizard.

3. Smartcat automatically extracts the archive and preserves the folder structure — including when you download the translated files.

Related articles

• Adding Files to an Existing Project

• Downloading a Translated File

• Creating and Using Project Templates

• Setting Up Translation Memory in Smartcat

• Uploading a Glossary to Your Workspace

• Supported file formats