Home›Support›English Support›[Resolved] Split: When we translate a single post many different URLs are created
[Resolved] Split: When we translate a single post many different URLs are created
This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.
Problem: The client reported an issue where multiple URLs for a single translated post were all active and returning a 200 status code, which could potentially harm SEO. Solution: We recommended the client to first switch their site to a default WordPress theme like TwentyTwenty-Four and deactivate all plugins except WPML and its add-ons to check if the issue persists. If the problem still occurs, the next step is to deactivate all plugins except WPML and then reactivate them one by one to identify the problematic plugin. It's crucial to make a full site backup before proceeding with these steps. If the site is live, these procedures should be tried in a staging environment. Additionally, we adjusted a setting in WPML -> Settings -> 'Make themes work multilingual' by disabling the 'Adjust IDs for multilingual functionality' option, which resolved the issue of links returning a 200 status.
If this solution does not apply to your case, or if it seems outdated, we highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If the issue persists, please open a new support ticket at WPML support forum.
This is the technical support forum for WPML - the multilingual WordPress plugin.
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I can see that all four links you shared show the same post. I can also see that there is no redirection and they are all in status code 200.
This also might be a problem caused by the Listeo theme by Purethemes or by its core plugin. Or maybe another third-party plugin. If possible, get your site into a minimum environment, switching to a default WordPress theme like TwentyTwenty-Four and having no plugins activated except WPML.
First, you must check if the problem persists when just the theme is switched to TwentyTwenty-Four (for example). If it persists, deactivate all plugins except WPML and its add-ons. Then, please check if the problem persists. If it does not continue, start by activating the plugins individually and checking when the issue comes back, then report to me which plugin was the culprit.
**** Important! Please make a full site backup (files and DB) before you proceed with those steps****
*** If your site is live, you might want to try those procedures in a staging environment or a snapshot of your site on your local server or another server. ***
If you need further help with this, please share the access details to your site with me. I'm enabling a private message for the following reply.
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We have strict policies regarding privacy and access to your information. Please see: https://wpml.org/purchase/support-policy/privacy-and-security-when-providing-debug-information-for-support/ **IMPORTANT**
- - Please backup the site files and database before providing us access. --
-- If you have a staging site where the problem can be reproduced, it is better to share access to the staging site.--
I'm consulting our second-tier supporters about your case. When I have their reply, I'll update you here.
Please note that my weekend hours are Friday to Saturday. If you need further assistance, I'll be available to continue checking this issue and helping you next week.
The URLs are not generated normally anywhere - so basically you have to input them manually - hence it should not be an issue.
You wrote:
When we translate a single post many different URLs are created.
This makes me realize that I didn't ask you where you see that many URLs are created.
Is it in your sitemap?
I checked the sitemap of your site here: hidden link. And I only see the first, and correct URL: hidden link. Please see the attached screenshot.
Are you typing those other URLs manually?
You wrote: "They all are in 200 status, so they are crawlable by bots."
No, this is not the case. If they do not exist on your site, they are not crawlable by bots.
In any case, in WPML -> Settings -> Make themes work multilingual, I disabled the 'Adjust IDs for multilingual functionality' option and clicked the Save button. Please see the attached screenshot. Now all the links redirect to hidden link. So, even this problem of getting those links to be 200 does not happen anymore.
Could you please confirm that this issue is now resolved?
Thanks for adding the additional information about this case.
I've updated WPMl and Strings Translation to their latest versions on your site.
But it didn't fix the issue.
We suspect a collision with the theme or another plugin might cause this problem. If possible, get your site into a minimum environment, switching to a default WordPress theme like TwentyTwenty-Four and having no plugins activated except WPML.
First, you must check if the problem persists when just the theme is switched to TwentyTwenty-Four (for example). If it persists, deactivate all plugins except WPML and its add-ons and WooCommerce without any extensions. Then, please check if the problem persists. If it does not persist, start by activating the plugins individually and checking when the issue comes back, then report to me which plugin was the culprit.
**** Important! Please make a full site backup (files and DB) before you proceed with those steps****
*** If your site is live, you might want to try those procedures in a staging environment or a snapshot of your site on your local server or another server. ***
Hi Itamar,
as you can see from reply number 17312232, dated August 12, 2025 at 7:50 am, we already tried disabling plugins and themes and it did not work.
Sorry for missing the point; you had already tried it.
To esclate the issue to our second-tier supporter, please allow me to take a copy of your site. To achieve this, I need to install a plugin such as Duplicator or All-in-One Migration. Please let me know if you agree.
Hello,
My name is Carlos, and I will continue working on this ticket while my colleague Itamar is on vacation
1.- I have created a copy of the site, but before we move on, I kindly ask you to update all outdated plugins and themes that appear in this link: hidden link
Then double-check if the issue has disappeared.
2.- Also, I would like to ask you if the issue persists while the WPML plugins are deactivated. Because the WordPress core has a core functionality that tries to return a similar URL to avoid showing a 404 error.
