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WPML 4.6 Beta 2 – Easier Automatic Translation in Bulk and Language Switcher Block

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The beta 2 version of WPML 4.6 is out now. Try out some of the top new features and let us know what you think!

WPML 4.6 is right around the corner! Here are the top features that we would love you to test and share your feedback with us.

Better Automatic Translation Workflow

Now, you can send content to be translated automatically directly from the Translation Management Dashboard. 

This makes it easier to use automatic translation on a group of pages or posts, without having to open each one in the Advanced Translation Editor.

Translating content automatically from the Translation Management Dashboard

Reviews for Bulk Automated Translations

Another big improvement is that you can now review your automatic translations, even if you aren’t using Translate Everything mode. Set your review preferences in WPML → Settings.

Setting your review preferences

Any time you translate content using automatic translation, you or your translators will be able to review and edit the translations by going to WPML → Translations.

Reviewing a completed automatic translation

New Language Switcher Block

WPML is now completely compatible with the WordPress Site Editor (previously known as Full-Site Editing), thanks to our new language switcher block. This block allows you to add a language switcher to menus, widgets, page or post content, templates, and wherever you can add blocks.

Adding a language switcher block to a site using the WordPress Site Editor

When adding a language switcher block to your menu, you need to translate the navigation for it to show up in your secondary language. You can do this by going to WPML → Translation Management and filtering by Navigation Menu.

Translating your site’s header navigation

You can translate it automatically, translate it yourself, or send it for translation by a translator or professional translation service.

SVG Flags for Language Switcher

Speaking of the language switcher, this release has upgraded the old PNG flags in the language switcher to SVG vector files. Many of our clients have requested this update, and it comes with several benefits:

  • SVG images have smaller file sizes which means faster load times and improved site speed ranking
  • Vector images display beautifully no matter what your site visitors’ screen resolution is
New SVG flags for the language switcher

There’s more!

These are just the top new features that we’d really love you to test and share your feedback with us.

The WPML 4.6 production release will include many more fixes and other improvements across the board.

How to Get the WPML 4.6 Beta 2

We recommend only installing beta versions on a test or development site, never on a live production site.

To try the beta, go to Plugins → Add New and click the Commercial tab. Switch to the Beta channel to install the new release.

Installing the WPML 4.6 beta

You can also get it by visiting your Downloads page and switching to the Beta channel there.

Downloading the WPML 4.6 beta from WPML.org

Try the Beta and Let Us Know How it Goes

We want to make sure WPML 4.6 has been tested on a variety of different sites and works for our clients. 

Please give it a try, test out the new features, and let us know what you think in the comments below! 

If you come across any issues, please let our team know so we can fix them before the final release.

18 Responses to “WPML 4.6 Beta 2 – Easier Automatic Translation in Bulk and Language Switcher Block”

  2. Very cool. I look forward to trying it out!

    But what I would like to see more than anything is a simple button within the Advanced Translation Editor to advance to the next translation/document without having to return to the main list of translatable documents – it costs like 10 seconds each time and is therefore enormously frustrating. I hope it could be added soon!

    • Thanks for your comment, Nick. I’ll provide your feedback to our developers for consideration.

    • Hi Nick – Just wanted to provide an update here that our developers will be discussing this feature for a future release. I can’t make any promises that it will be implemented, but it’s on their radar!

      • Thanks for the followup! That’s exciting. I hope it would come to both the ATE and Classic Editor! It is a tiny thing that would improve the UX immensely.

  3. I’m still waiting for a tool to style the language switcher properly. Out of the box it still looks like a 1990 website.
    For styling I don’t mean doing it with difficult code in the backend, but simple in the frontend.

    The current styling options are terrible.

    • Thank you for your comment, Victor. Are you referring to our new block, the one that we released in WPML 4.6 beta? If so, please be specific about what specifically you would like us to improve. I have sent you a private email on this matter. Thank you, Victor.

  4. Sounds like great improvements!

    Are the SVG flags already included in the beta version? Reason I ask is that on my sandbox site they still show as PNG images.

    • Hi Pieter – Yes, the flags are SVG files now (I just double-checked on my own sandbox). If you’re having trouble with the flags, please open a support ticket so our support team can look into it and escalate it right away if there’s an issue with the beta.

      • Maybe with a new install, but they are definitely still PNG files on both frontend (a href=”https://monosnap.com/file/YD2db6xqMT38mubF6OB1Nm8Claji6e”>screenshot and backend; on version 4.6.0-b.1(Beta).

        I will open a support ticket then.

        • Hi Pieter – I was testing on a fresh install, so that may be the difference. I see you have been working with our support team on this. We’ll take a closer look at this issue – thanks!

  5. Hi ! Is there a changelog for the version 4.6 beta ?
    I love read them and expect everytime found some performances improvements.

    regards