Split: Issue with deleting Languages content

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This topic is split from https://wpml.org/forums/topic/manual-translations-in-wpml-are-being-overwritten-with-english-content-after-editing-the-default-lan/

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Supporter timezone: Asia/Kathmandu (GMT+05:45)

Tagged: Documentation request

This topic contains 19 replies, has 0 voices.

Last updated by Shekhar Bhandari 1 day, 7 hours ago.

Assisted by: Shekhar Bhandari.

Author	Posts
September 2, 2025 at 7:45 am #17364577
smackcoders	Hi, I have an issue with removing the Arabic language from my site. I tried to remove the Arabic language from my staging site. I clicked "Yes, delete all Arabic translation," and it's loading after finishing, and it shows the same page. Can you help me with this? Before I shared with you the staging site access. You can check it there.
September 2, 2025 at 7:47 am #17364586
Shekhar Bhandari WPML Supporter since 03/2015 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Asia/Kathmandu (GMT+05:45)	Hello, I’ve created a new ticket to track this issue. It appears that when attempting to delete content, the server returns 504 errors. This suggests the server is unable to process the request. As a workaround, I recommend manually deleting the content. Please follow these steps: * Backup your site. * Enable the Arabic language option. * Open any post type. * From the top bar, switch the language to Arabic. * Delete the posts. * Also remove them from the trash. Let me know if this resolves the issue. Thanks
September 2, 2025 at 8:03 am #17364698
smackcoders	I checked the post types, and the Arabic language contents are deleted, but in the language settings, it's still showing this. If you manually delete the posts or pages the content still in db? And I need to know how to remove ar.MO and ar. PO. Because once the language is removed, still the theme and plugins have the Arabic translation content, right?
September 2, 2025 at 9:41 am #17365089
Shekhar Bhandari WPML Supporter since 03/2015 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Asia/Kathmandu (GMT+05:45)	Hello there, There are several post types and media that needs deletion so it's showing like that. You need to delete those post types contents too. For .mo/.po files: https://wpml.org/faq/how-to-completely-remove-a-language-from-your-site/#what-can-i-do-if-my-theme-and-plugins-continue-downloading-language-files-in-the-removed-language Look forward to your reply. Thanks
September 2, 2025 at 9:49 am #17365100
smackcoders	How can I delete those post types and media manually? Or shall we do the same work as in the above screenshot? I've done that, it's loading, and then it shows me the same thing again, so I need to do it again and again. Or only way to do it is manually.
September 2, 2025 at 9:53 am #17365106
smackcoders	I think the issue is with my server. If I am doing this in my live site, the error will not show, right? I am talking about the language removal from the WPML settings.
September 2, 2025 at 9:57 am #17365112
Shekhar Bhandari WPML Supporter since 03/2015 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Asia/Kathmandu (GMT+05:45)	Hello there, Yes, it's due to server resources and the items needs to be removed manually. Thanks
September 2, 2025 at 10:21 am #17365276
smackcoders	But I tried to manually delete the content, then I checked the post types, for eg, Posts, there is no Arabic Language content, but it still shows 67 posts. Below I attached the screenshots for your reference. You can check the site before I share it with you.
September 2, 2025 at 10:27 am #17365341
Shekhar Bhandari WPML Supporter since 03/2015 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Asia/Kathmandu (GMT+05:45)	Hello there, You will need to enable the arabic language first. Please check this video: hidden link Also, make sure you go to WPML->Settings->Posts and pages synchronization and the following options are unchecked: - When deleting a post, delete translations as well - When deleting a taxonomy (category, tag or custom), delete translations as well Let me know if this helps. Thanks
September 2, 2025 at 10:55 am #17365619
smackcoders	So, first I need to delete all the Arabic language contents manually, then remove the language, and then the error didn't show, right? Ok, I'll try this. But what about the media? I need to delete it manually? Thank you for your help.
September 2, 2025 at 11:13 am #17365651
smackcoders	Hi, Thanks, it's worked, but for media, I have 8826 images. How can I delete it manually? Is there any other way to do it?
September 2, 2025 at 1:34 pm #17366389
Shekhar Bhandari WPML Supporter since 03/2015 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Asia/Kathmandu (GMT+05:45)	Hi there, You can follow the same steps as pages posts and change the language from top-bar to secondary language and delete it. Or you can disable the language and try the delete language options that's we tried earlier, it probably will work for just media types. Thanks
September 3, 2025 at 7:27 am #17368306
smackcoders	I deleted all the datas in my site except Media and Navigation Menu item. I have deleted Navigation menu but its still shows Navigation menu item? Can you help me with this? I done this in my live site.
September 3, 2025 at 7:38 am #17368394
smackcoders	And one more thing, I will delete the ar.MO and ar.Po file from the wp-content/languages/plugin folder. Then I need to delete the theme folder also? wp-content/languages/theme. Please let me know, I will do this. This will not affect any other languages?
September 3, 2025 at 8:11 am #17368576
Shekhar Bhandari WPML Supporter since 03/2015 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Asia/Kathmandu (GMT+05:45)	Hello there, Did you went to Appearance -> Menus and delete the menu items? Yes, To delete theme translations, open the themes folder in ../wp-content/languages/ and delete the .mo/.po files Thanks