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This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.

Problem:

The client is working on a WordPress multisite and wants to know if WPML can connect pages across different domains when switching languages, how WPML's account limits apply to multisites, and if they can set up a structure with different domains and directories for different languages.

Solution:

1. WPML cannot connect pages across different domains (like biscy.be/team to biscy.fr/equipe) when switching languages because each site is a separate WordPress installation.

2. In a WordPress Multisite, you only need to register the main site with WPML. All subsites under the main site can use the same license without additional registrations. For more details, visit WPML Multisite Registration.

3. WPML supports three URL formats for languages: different domains per language, different directories per language, or language name as a parameter. However, mixing domains and directories for different languages in the same multisite setup is not supported. For configuring different domains per language, refer to WPML's guide on using different domains per language.

If this solution does not apply to your case, or if it seems outdated, we recommend opening a new support ticket. We also highly recommend checking related known issues at WPML Known Issues, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. For further assistance, please visit WPML Support Forum.

This is the technical support forum for WPML - the multilingual WordPress plugin.

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This topic contains 5 replies, has 1 voice.

Last updated by Bigul 1 week, 6 days ago.

Assisted by: Bigul.

Author Posts
January 30, 2025 at 3:55 pm #16652712

justienR

Background of the issue:
We are working on a multisite in WordPress involving biscy.be, biscy.fr, and other custom domains. We need to connect pages across these domains using WPML.

Symptoms:
No specific issue or error message mentioned.

Questions:
Can we use WPML to connect all pages across domains, such as redirecting from biscy.be/team to biscy.fr/equipe when switching languages?
Is a multisite considered a single website in terms of WPML's account limits, or does each site within the network count separately?
Can we set up the following structure with WPML: biscy.nl, biscy.fr, biscy.be/nl, biscy.be/fr, biscy.eu?

January 31, 2025 at 8:52 am #16654415

Dražen
Supporter

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Europe/Zagreb (GMT+01:00)

Hello,

Thanks for contacting us.

While you wait for my colleague to take over the ticket, let me try to help you with the issue quickly.

That is not possible since each subsite is an instance of its own. You can not connect different websites to one via WPML.

What you can do is use one subsite/website, do the translation for this subsite and then show them on different domains instead of in directory format. You can also do this on a regular single WordPress installation.

Multisite:
- https://wpml.org/documentation/support/multisite-support/

Regular WP website using domain per language:

https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/language-setup/language-url-options/how-to-use-wpml-with-different-domains-per-language/

Regards,
Drazen

February 4, 2025 at 7:25 am #16665051

justienR

Hi, I still need assistance.

Can you answer per question please, to have everything clear?

1. Can we use WPML to connect all pages across domains, such as redirecting from biscy.be/team to biscy.fr/equipe when switching languages?

2. Is a multisite considered a single website in terms of WPML's account limits, or does each site within the network count separately? We have 4 domains (see structure below). We don't have to purchase WPML 4 times?

3. Can we set up the following structure with WPML?
- biscy.nl
- biscy.fr
- biscy.be/nl
- biscy.be/fr
- biscy.eu

Thank you in advance.

February 5, 2025 at 4:54 pm #16672429

Bigul
Supporter

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Europe/Vienna (GMT+01:00)

Hello,

Thank you for the updates. Please read the following and let us know your feedback.

1) It will not be possible for WPML to connect between biscy.be/team to biscy.fr/equipe while switching the language. Because both are separate WordPress installations.

2) You can use the same license key for each subsite of a WordPress Multisite installation. You only have to register the main site - https://wpml.org/documentation/support/multisite-support/#register-wpml-multisite

3) WPML will allow three different formats for language URLs. Different Domains per languages or Different Directories per language or Language name as a parameter - https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/language-setup/language-url-options/

However, it is not possible to have a mix of languages that use different domains (.nl, .com) and languages that use directories (.be/nl).

--
Thanks!

Bigul

February 5, 2025 at 11:33 pm #16673316

justienR

Hi Bigul

Thanks for your reply.

1. I've installed a multisite with domain pointers. So normally, it is possible to connect them with WPML? I mean 'switch between languages'.
Do you have documentation regarding this?

2. So if we register biscy.be (this is our main site), then we only need 1 registration. No need to register all domains (biscy.nl, biscy.fr, biscy.be and biscy.eu)?

3a. referring to point 1... Here you mention it is possible to have different domains for different languages?

3b. If it is not possible we will check the workaround and use this structure.
biscy.be
fr.biscy.be
biscy.nl
biscy.eu
biscy.fr

Sure it is not possible installing wpml per domain in the multisite environment?
On the biscy.be site we can use directories and then rest of the websites, we can use the normal way. Is that an option?

Thanks in advance.
Kind regards.
Sander

February 6, 2025 at 9:55 am #16674554

Bigul
Supporter

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Europe/Vienna (GMT+01:00)

Hi Sander,

Thank you for the updates. Each sub/child site will be considered a different site in a multisite environment. So there are limitations for WPML handling different child/sub sites together.

Once we register the main site of a WordPress Multisite with the WPML registration key, you don't have to register each child site of the installation with WPML.

WPML will support different domains per language. Please check with documentation for more details - https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/language-setup/language-url-options/how-to-use-wpml-with-different-domains-per-language/

3b is possible with WPML. Refer to this article for more details - https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/language-setup/language-url-options/how-to-use-wpml-with-different-domains-per-language/#how-to-enable-different-languages-per-domain

--
Thanks!

Bigul