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Updated
January 29, 2026

Learn how to show different page designs in each language with WPML, starting with a blank draft or a duplicate of your original content.

Creating different designs and translations for each language helps you personalize content for different audiences. For example, here’s a page in English and French with different designs:

Page in English
Page in English
Page in French
Page in French

Creating Different Designs per Language

When you create a different design for a language, you must translate the content manually in the native WordPress editor. If you use the Translation Editor or automatic translation, your custom design will be overwritten with the original page’s layout.

WPML offers two ways to create a different design in each language:

  • Start with a blank page – Create a new design from a blank draft and manually add your translations
  • Duplicate the original page – Start with a copy of the original, then customize the design and manually replace the default text with translations

Designing from a Blank Page

To start designing from a blank page:

  1. Edit the page or post in your default language.
  2. In the Language section on the right, click the WordPress Editor tab under Translate this Document.
Switching to the WordPress Editor tab
Switching to the WordPress Editor tab
  1. In the pop-up that appears, select Only this page and click Apply.
  2. In the new table that appears under Translate this Document, click the Plus icon next to the language you want to create a different design for. A blank draft will appear.
Languages table under Translate this Document
Languages table under Translate this Document
  1. Design your page and manually add the translations. Then, click Publish.

Designing from a Duplicate of the Original Page

To create a different design in another language, starting with a copy of your original content: 

  1. Edit your page or post in the default language.
  2. In the Language section on the right, click the WordPress Editor tab under Translate this Document.
  3. In the pop-up that appears, select Only this page and click Apply.
  4. Select the Duplicate checkbox next to your target language and click the Duplicate button that appears
Selecting to duplicate the original content into German
  1. A new container will appear under Translations with the language you just duplicated content for. Click the pencil icon to open your duplicate draft with the original content.
Clicking the pencil icon next to duplicated content
Clicking the pencil icon
  1. Customize the design and manually replace the original content with translations. Then, click Save.