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Updated
October 25, 2023

WPML’s Classic Translation Editor allows you to translate any content type from inside your WordPress admin.

If you need a translation editor that offers additional features like spellcheck, a glossary, automatic translation, and translation memory, please use the Advanced Translation Editor instead. Similarly, if you want to use the Translate Everything Automatically translation mode, you must use the Advanced Translation Editor.

See how to switch from the Classic to Advanced Translation Editor.

The Classic Translation Editor uses a simple interface that allows you and your site’s translators to add translations side-by-side with your site’s content.

Activating the Classic Translation Editor

By default, WPML uses the Advanced Translation Editor. If you want to use the Classic Translation Editor instead, go to WPMLSettings. In the Translation Editor section, be sure to choose the Classic Translation Editor for both new translations and translations created with the Classic Translation Editor.

Activating the Classic Translation Editor

Translating With WPML’s Classic Translation Editor

To open a translation job in the Classic Translation Editor, click the plus icon that appears either in the list of posts and pages or when editing a post.

The plus icon in while you edit a post

The plus icon on the list of posts

You can then add your translations. Don’t forget to check the box to indicate each Translation is complete, then click Save & Close.

Using the Classic Translation Editor

If you have individual translators set up on your site, they receive an email notification when a new translation job is available for them. When they log in, they will see the Translations queue, which shows the available pending jobs.

Translations Queue

When translators click on Take and translate from their list of pending jobs, they are taken to WPML’s Classic Translation Editor. There, they can view the originals and add the translations, side by side.

When each field is completed, they can click on each field’s Translation is complete checkbox, then click Save & Close to apply the translations.

Translating Fields With Images and Other Media Types

The Classic Translation Editor does not allow you to add media during translation.

To translate fields that feature media:

  1. Copy the field from the original. You will see the media appear in the translation.
  2. Translate the texts.
  3. Click on the checkbox to indicate that translation is complete.

The following image illustrates translating the body of a page that includes an image.

Translating fields that feature media
Translating fields that feature media

If you need to use a different image on the translated page, see our documentation about Media Translation.

Translating Taxonomy Terms

When a post type is sent to translation, WPML also sends all taxonomy terms associated with a particular post type. Translators are be able to see and translate these in the Classic Translation Editor.

You may not want to retranslate previously translated taxonomy terms, and it may cause a problem with post types associated with specific taxonomy terms, especially when other posts are connected to a particular taxonomy term.

For this reason, you can prevent translation of taxonomy terms that have already been translated.  The setting is located on the WPML → Settings page, in the Translation Editor section.

Option For Preventing The Translated Taxonomy Terms From Being Translated Again

When you enable this setting, your translators will not be able to edit the translations of already translated terms.