Skip Navigation

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

Problem:
You want to translate the original English URL permalink into French or Spanish when using WPML.
Solution:
We currently do not support direct translation of URLs in WPML. You can translate the page title, which will then generate a new URL based on the translated title. Alternatively, you can copy the URL from the original version and adjust it as needed for each language.

If this solution does not apply to your case, or if it seems outdated, we recommend opening a new support ticket. We also advise 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. For further assistance, please visit our support forum at WPML Support Forum.

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

Everyone can read, but only WPML clients can post here. WPML team is replying on the forum 6 days per week, 22 hours per day.

Tagged: 

This topic contains 13 replies, has 2 voices.

Last updated by Andrey 8 months ago.

Assisted by: Andrey.

Author Posts
October 22, 2024 at 6:18 pm #16318999

stephaneM-28

Background of the issue:
I am trying to ensure that the Permalink URL in my CMS is translated from the original version rather than using the page title. The site I need help with is hidden link.

Symptoms:
Permalink automatically translated does not match the original version of the Permalink URL; it uses the page title instead.

Questions:
What do I need to do to have the Permalink URL translated from the original one?

October 22, 2024 at 8:00 pm #16319229

Andrey
WPML Supporter since 06/2013

Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский )

Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+03:00)

Thank you for contacting WPML support.

It is expected that the URL will auto-generate from the translated title.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Go to WPML → Settings → Translated documents options
2. Select the "Copy from original language if translation language uses encoded URLs" option.
3. Save the settings.
4. Go to WPML -> Languages -> edit languages and set the language to "Yes" for encoding.
5. Make a small change to the original page, such as adding an extra blank space at the end of a sentence/paragraph.
6. Save the changes.
7. Edit the translation again and save it until it reaches 100% translation.

Alternatively, you can test this with a new page.

For more information, visit: https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/translating-page-slugs/

October 25, 2024 at 10:09 pm #16332346

stephaneM-28

Hi Andrey,

I followed your procedure above and still I have the permalink stay in English and not being translated in the page language. (I tried also with pages I did not translated yet)

what else can we do?

thanks

permalink2.png
permalink.png
October 26, 2024 at 9:00 am #16332990

Andrey
WPML Supporter since 06/2013

Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский )

Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+03:00)

Thank you for your feedback.

Have you tested this with a new page after changing the options?

I’ve enabled debug information for this support ticket. Please refer to the following link for instructions on how to retrieve this information from your site and share it with us: http://wpml.org/faq/provide-debug-information-faster-support/

October 26, 2024 at 4:10 pm #16333465

stephaneM-28

Hi Andrey,

yes I did, eg: hidden link

let me know what next?

thanks

October 26, 2024 at 5:33 pm #16333531

Andrey
WPML Supporter since 06/2013

Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский )

Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+03:00)

Thank you for your feedback.

I have looked at the URL, and it seems to be what you requested. The translated version of your provided page has the same URL as the original.

For i.e., hidden link

And the original:
hidden link

If this is not what you are asking, can you please elaborate a little more so I can better understand? Please upload some screenshots to indicate what you are trying to achieve.

October 26, 2024 at 6:41 pm #16333585

stephaneM-28

Hi Andrey,

the new permalink after translation should be in portuguese as below (not in English, as the english permalink is only for the version in English on my website, all different translations should have the permalink in the different language translated (Spanish, French, etc.) ):

hidden link

this is a link that work at one point previously in Portuguese:
hidden link

somehow some work, not many and a large majority do not work with automatic translation of the URL.

thanks

October 28, 2024 at 7:04 am #16335953

Andrey
WPML Supporter since 06/2013

Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский )

Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+03:00)

Thank you for your explanation.

Then, it should work by default. You need to cancel these steps https://wpml.org/forums/topic/permalink-translated-does-not-match-original-version-of-permalink-url/#post-16319229 and return the setting to option "Auto-generate from title (default) " in WPML → Settings → Translated documents.

The URL will be auto-generated from the title. Does the issue still happen if you use this option? Please test this again with a new page. I have tested this on my end, and it works well with the automatic transition.

October 28, 2024 at 3:35 pm #16338613

stephaneM-28

Hi Andrey,

thank you for this.

it is better (now converts to the different language) but still not a conversion of the previous URL.

so I removed this as you asked for:
1. Go to WPML → Settings → Translated documents options
2. Select the "Copy from original language if translation language uses encoded URLs" option.
3. Save the settings.
4. Go to WPML -> Languages -> edit languages and set the language to "Yes" for encoding.

and did this:
return the setting to option "Auto-generate from title (default) " in WPML → Settings → Translated documents.

WPML now convert not the English URL but he uses the description above the Permalink for the conversion, see below exemple and attached photos (en-2025 does not appear in the English translation so WPML took the description above the URL translation, how can we have the system translating only the English permalink URL into the different languages?)

hidden link

thanks for your help

spanishSCI.png
englishSCI.png
October 28, 2024 at 4:14 pm #16338947

Andrey
WPML Supporter since 06/2013

Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский )

Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+03:00)

Thank you for your explanation.

Do I understand correctly that:

1. You have a page in Portuguese with a corresponding Portuguese URL.
2. You translated that page into English, which has an English URL.
3. You want the English URL of the same page to be copied to both Spanish and Portuguese pages.

If this is the case, it’s not possible to set it up as if you created a page in Portuguese first. Instead, you can try the following method, which has worked for me on my test installation:

1. Create a page in English first, for example, with the URL: best-summer-girls-soccer-camps-in-the-world.
2. Select back the option "Copy from original language if translation language uses encoded URLs."
3. In WPML -> Languages -> Edit Languages, set the language to "Yes" for encoding for Spanish and French.

As a result, you will have:
- Portuguese: URL generated from the translated page title
- Spanish: URL copied from English
- French: URL copied from English

I hope this helps.

October 28, 2024 at 4:32 pm #16338991

stephaneM-28

thanks for above.

my entire website is in English only (I am based in the US), I do not have page created in different languages, I use WPML to translate pages from English to other languages only. So I do not have pages in Portuguese (only after WPML have translated them from English to Portuguese)

in this case, can you confirm that I need to do this as you mentioned above?

2. Select back the option "Copy from original language if translation language uses encoded URLs."
3. In WPML -> Languages -> Edit Languages, set the language to "Yes" for encoding for Spanish and French.

I need to have this for all translations from English to other languages:

- Portuguese: URL copied from English and translated in Portuguese
- Spanish: URL copied from English and translated in Spanish
- French: URL copied from English and translated in French.

etc..

thanks

October 28, 2024 at 4:43 pm #16339089

Andrey
WPML Supporter since 06/2013

Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский )

Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+03:00)

the new permalink after translation should be in portuguese as below (not in English, as the english permalink is only for the version in English on my website, all different translations should have the permalink in the different language translated (Spanish, French, etc.) ):

I am a bit confused because you wrote that you need different URLs for translations, but your initial and last messages say you need them to be in English.

in this case, can you confirm that I need to do this as you mentioned above?

To answer this question. Yes, I have double-checked this locally.

October 28, 2024 at 4:52 pm #16339144

stephaneM-28

so my website is in English, all URL are in English only (located in permalink).

when I translate them in Spanish or French, I went the URL Permalink (in English from the original website) to be translated in Spanish or French:

example: sci.com/soccer-camps to go in French sci.com/stages-de-football

that's all.

but as I mentioned above, the original English URL is not translated by WPML but the description in the photos I sent you is the one translated, so how to I have the WPML translate the original URL Permalink in English into French or Spanish?

thanks

October 28, 2024 at 6:58 pm #16339518

Andrey
WPML Supporter since 06/2013

Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский )

Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+03:00)

Thank you for your feedback. WPML does not translate the original URL permalink into secondary languages. It can translate the page title, from which the URL will be generated, or you can copy the URL from the original version. However, there is no feature in WPML that directly translates URLs.