Automatic Redirect Based on Browser Language

WPML can show returning visitors the language they picked before. For new visitors, it can offer or open the page in their browser language.

To set it up, go to WPML → Settings and open URLs and SEO. Scroll down to the Visitor language section.

The section has two parts. The first is for visitors who picked a language before. The second is for visitors who haven’t.

Show Returning Visitors the Language They Picked

Select Show the site in the language they last picked in the language switcher. WPML then remembers the language a visitor picks in a WPML language switcher. When they come back, WPML shows them the page in that language.

In Remember their choice for, set how many days WPML keeps the choice. The default is 30 days. The count starts again on each visit, so a visitor who comes back within this time keeps their language.

How it works:

• Only a choice in a language switcher counts. Opening a page in another language, for example from Google or from a shared link, doesn’t change the saved language.
• WPML sends visitors to their language only when they arrive from outside your site, for example from a bookmark or a search result. It never redirects them while they browse your site, so they can always open a page in another language.
• WPML redirects only when the page has a translation in the saved language. If it doesn’t, the visitor stays on the page they opened.
• If you use a root page, returning visitors who arrive there go to the home page in their saved language.
• The saved language always comes first. Visitors who picked a language never see the language bar or the browser language redirect.
• Search engines don’t keep cookies or click language switchers. This option doesn’t affect how Google indexes your site.

Visitors Who Haven’t Picked a Language Yet

For visitors with no saved language, WPML looks at the language of their browser. Under When their browser uses a different language than the page, choose one option:

• Keep them on the page they opened. This is the default. WPML doesn’t do anything.
• Show a bar that offers the page in their language. A bar at the bottom of the screen asks visitors if they want to see the page in their language. This doesn’t affect how Google indexes your site.
• Redirect them automatically to the page in their language. WPML opens the translation of the page for them. This can affect how Google indexes your site.

The Language Bar

The bar shows only when the page has a translation in the visitor’s browser language. It shows the question View this page in [language]? and a View in [language] button, written in the visitor’s language.

• When visitors click the button, WPML opens the translation. If you also remember the language visitors pick, WPML saves this language, like a choice in the language switcher.
• When visitors close the bar, WPML hides it for the number of hours you set in After a visitor closes the bar, hide it for. The default is 24 hours.
• When visitors ignore the bar, it shows again on the next page they open.

The Automatic Redirect

WPML redirects visitors when they arrive on your site from outside it. It doesn’t redirect them while they browse your site.

Under If the page isn’t translated, choose what happens when the page has no translation in the visitor’s language:

• Keep them on the page they opened
• Send them to the home page in their language

In Redirect each visitor at most once every, set how many hours pass before WPML can redirect the same visitor again. The default is 24 hours. This way, visitors can switch to another language after the redirect.

How the Options Work Together

When a visitor opens a page, WPML checks in this order:

1. If the visitor picked a language before, WPML uses that language.
2. If not, WPML uses the browser language. It keeps the visitor on the page, shows the bar, or redirects them, depending on your setting.

After a visitor picks a language, closes the bar, or is redirected, WPML doesn’t ask again for the time you set.

Effects on Google Indexing

Remembering the language visitors pick and the language bar don’t affect how Google indexes your site.

The automatic redirect can. Google follows redirects, including the ones made with JavaScript. It may think that your content permanently redirects to content in another language. Read more about how browser language redirect affects Google indexing.

How It Works

WPML uses JavaScript for all of these options. Everything happens in the visitor’s browser, so it’s fast and it works with caching plugins.

However, it may fail if your site runs other plugins that also redirect with JavaScript. Some maintenance plugins do that.

Effects on the Page Loading Time

When WPML redirects a visitor, the browser loads two pages: first the page they opened, then the page in their language. The language bar doesn’t load a second page.

Effects on Site Speed Testing Tools

Tools that measure site speed, such as GTmetrix, may open your site with a browser language that is different from the page. With the automatic redirect on, their results can include the redirect.

Tip: Always Include a Language Switcher on the Page

Always let visitors choose their language in a language switcher. If you rely only on the browser language, some visitors get content in a language they can’t read, with no way to change it.

The language switcher is also how WPML learns which language a visitor prefers. WPML remembers only the languages that visitors pick there.

Debugging the Visitor Language Options

If an option doesn’t work when you test it, check the following:

• Is your browser language set? Check it in your browser’s language settings.
• Are you testing as a new visitor? WPML remembers earlier visits in cookies, for example a language you picked or a bar you closed. To start as a new visitor, open a private (incognito) window or clear your site’s cookies.
• Did you arrive from outside your site? WPML doesn’t redirect visitors while they browse your site or when they reload a page. To test the redirect, open the page in a new tab, for example by typing its address.
• Does the page have a translation in your browser language? The bar shows only when it does. The redirect needs it too, unless you chose Send them to the home page in their language.
• Are there JavaScript errors on the page? Open your browser’s developer tools and check the console.
• Do other plugins redirect visitors too? Review your active plugins and see which ones might be involved.
• Is the language you expect hidden? Make sure you enable Display hidden languages in your user profile.