diff --git a/qt/aqt/mediacheck.py b/qt/aqt/mediacheck.py
index ac5581ddf..8fb68118d 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/mediacheck.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/mediacheck.py
@@ -10,10 +10,15 @@ from typing import Iterable, List, Optional, TypeVar
 
 import aqt
 from anki import hooks
-from anki.lang import _, ngettext
-from anki.rsbackend import Interrupted, MediaCheckOutput, Progress, ProgressKind
+from anki.rsbackend import (
+    Interrupted,
+    MediaCheckOutput,
+    Progress,
+    ProgressKind,
+    StringsGroup,
+)
 from aqt.qt import *
-from aqt.utils import askUser, restoreGeom, saveGeom, showText, tooltip
+from aqt.utils import askUser, restoreGeom, saveGeom, showText, tooltip, tr
 
 T = TypeVar("T")
 
@@ -84,14 +89,14 @@ class MediaChecker:
         layout.addWidget(box)
 
         if output.unused:
-            b = QPushButton(_("Delete Unused Files"))
+            b = QPushButton(tr(StringsGroup.MEDIA_CHECK, "delete-unused"))
             b.setAutoDefault(False)
             box.addButton(b, QDialogButtonBox.RejectRole)
             b.clicked.connect(lambda c: self._on_trash_files(output.unused))  # type: ignore
 
         if output.missing:
             if any(map(lambda x: x.startswith("latex-"), output.missing)):
-                b = QPushButton(_("Render LaTeX"))
+                b = QPushButton(tr(StringsGroup.MEDIA_CHECK, "render-latex"))
                 b.setAutoDefault(False)
                 box.addButton(b, QDialogButtonBox.RejectRole)
                 b.clicked.connect(self._on_render_latex)  # type: ignore
@@ -120,37 +125,34 @@ class MediaChecker:
             browser.onSearchActivated()
             showText(err, type="html")
         else:
-            tooltip(_("All LaTeX rendered."))
+            tooltip(tr(StringsGroup.MEDIA_CHECK, "all-latex-rendered"))
 
     def _on_render_latex_progress(self, count: int) -> bool:
         if self.progress_dialog.wantCancel:
             return False
 
-        self.mw.progress.update(_("Checked {}...").format(count))
+        self.mw.progress.update(tr(StringsGroup.MEDIA_CHECK, "checked", count=count))
         return True
 
     def _on_trash_files(self, fnames: List[str]):
-        if not askUser(_("Delete unused media?")):
+        if not askUser(tr(StringsGroup.MEDIA_CHECK, "delete-unused-confirm")):
             return
 
         self.progress_dialog = self.mw.progress.start()
 
         last_progress = time.time()
         remaining = len(fnames)
+        total = len(fnames)
         try:
             for chunk in chunked_list(fnames, 25):
                 self.mw.col.media.trash_files(chunk)
                 remaining -= len(chunk)
                 if time.time() - last_progress >= 0.3:
-                    label = (
-                        ngettext(
-                            "%d file remaining...", "%d files remaining...", remaining,
-                        )
-                        % remaining
+                    self.mw.progress.update(
+                        tr(StringsGroup.MEDIA_CHECK, "files-remaining", count=remaining)
                     )
-                    self.mw.progress.update(label)
         finally:
             self.mw.progress.finish()
             self.progress_dialog = None
 
-        tooltip(_("Files moved to trash."))
+        tooltip(tr(StringsGroup.MEDIA_CHECK, "delete-unused-complete", count=total))
diff --git a/qt/aqt/mediasync.py b/qt/aqt/mediasync.py
index 3aba35380..47821f698 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/mediasync.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/mediasync.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from anki.rsbackend import (
     NetworkErrorKind,
     Progress,
     ProgressKind,
+    StringsGroup,
     SyncError,
     SyncErrorKind,
 )
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ from anki.types import assert_impossible
 from anki.utils import intTime
 from aqt import gui_hooks
 from aqt.qt import QDialog, QDialogButtonBox, QPushButton
-from aqt.utils import showWarning
+from aqt.utils import showWarning, tr
 
 LogEntry = Union[MediaSyncProgress, str]
 
@@ -68,10 +69,10 @@ class MediaSyncer:
             return
 
         if not self.mw.pm.media_syncing_enabled():
-            self._log_and_notify(_("Media syncing disabled."))
+            self._log_and_notify(tr(StringsGroup.SYNC, "media-disabled"))
             return
 
-        self._log_and_notify(_("Media sync starting..."))
+        self._log_and_notify(tr(StringsGroup.SYNC, "media-starting"))
         self._syncing = True
         self._want_stop = False
         gui_hooks.media_sync_did_start_or_stop(True)
@@ -104,14 +105,14 @@ class MediaSyncer:
         if exc is not None:
             self._handle_sync_error(exc)
         else:
-            self._log_and_notify(_("Media sync complete."))
+            self._log_and_notify(tr(StringsGroup.SYNC, "media-complete"))
 
     def _handle_sync_error(self, exc: BaseException):
         if isinstance(exc, Interrupted):
-            self._log_and_notify(_("Media sync aborted."))
+            self._log_and_notify(tr(StringsGroup.SYNC, "media-aborted"))
             return
 
-        self._log_and_notify(_("Media sync failed."))
+        self._log_and_notify(tr(StringsGroup.SYNC, "media-failed"))
         if isinstance(exc, SyncError):
             kind = exc.kind()
             if kind == SyncErrorKind.AUTH_FAILED:
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ class MediaSyncer:
     def abort(self) -> None:
         if not self.is_syncing():
             return
-        self._log_and_notify(_("Media sync aborting..."))
+        self._log_and_notify(tr(StringsGroup.SYNC, "media-aborting"))
         self._want_stop = True
 
     def is_syncing(self) -> bool:
@@ -199,7 +200,7 @@ class MediaSyncDialog(QDialog):
         self._close_when_done = close_when_done
         self.form = aqt.forms.synclog.Ui_Dialog()
         self.form.setupUi(self)
-        self.abort_button = QPushButton(_("Abort"))
+        self.abort_button = QPushButton(tr(StringsGroup.SYNC, "abort"))
         self.abort_button.clicked.connect(self._on_abort)  # type: ignore
         self.abort_button.setAutoDefault(False)
         self.form.buttonBox.addButton(self.abort_button, QDialogButtonBox.ActionRole)
diff --git a/qt/aqt/utils.py b/qt/aqt/utils.py
index 318f48b07..b01cc7442 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/utils.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/utils.py
@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
 # Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
 import os
 import re
 import subprocess
 import sys
-from typing import Any, Optional
+from typing import Any, Optional, Union
 
 import aqt
 from anki.lang import _
+from anki.rsbackend import StringsGroup
 from anki.utils import invalidFilename, isMac, isWin, noBundledLibs, versionWithBuild
 from aqt.qt import *
 from aqt.theme import theme_manager
@@ -27,6 +31,12 @@ def locale_dir() -> str:
     return os.path.join(aqt_data_folder(), "locale")
 
 
+def tr(group: StringsGroup, key: str, **kwargs: Union[str, int, float]) -> str:
+    """Shortcut to access translations from the backend.
+    (Currently) requires an open collection."""
+    return aqt.mw.col.backend.translate(group, key, **kwargs)
+
+
 def openHelp(section):
     link = aqt.appHelpSite
     if section:
diff --git a/rslib/src/i18n/media-check.ftl b/rslib/src/i18n/media-check.ftl
index 96326554a..5195ee0c0 100644
--- a/rslib/src/i18n/media-check.ftl
+++ b/rslib/src/i18n/media-check.ftl
@@ -19,3 +19,17 @@ missing-file = Missing: {$filename}
 unused-file = Unused: {$filename}
 
 checked = Checked {$count}...
+
+delete-unused = Delete Unused
+delete-unused-confirm = Delete unused media?
+files-remaining = {$count ->
+    [one] 1 file
+    *[other] {$count} files
+  } remaining.
+delete-unused-complete = {$count ->
+    [one] 1 file
+    *[other] {$count} files
+  } moved to the trash.
+
+render-latex = Render LaTeX
+all-latex-rendered = All LaTeX rendered.
diff --git a/rslib/src/i18n/sync.ftl b/rslib/src/i18n/sync.ftl
index df3de8703..71d0f1b28 100644
--- a/rslib/src/i18n/sync.ftl
+++ b/rslib/src/i18n/sync.ftl
@@ -1,3 +1,16 @@
+### Messages shown when synchronizing with AnkiWeb.
+
+## Media synchronization
+
 media-added-count = Added: {$up}↑ {$down}↓
 media-removed-count = Removed: {$up}↑ {$down}↓
 media-checked-count = Checked: {$count}
+
+media-starting = Media sync starting...
+media-complete = Media sync complete.
+media-failed = Media sync failed.
+media-aborting = Media sync aborting...
+media-aborted = Media sync aborted.
+media-disabled = Media sync disabled.
+
+abort-button = Abort