Two language versions for two domains

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

Problem:
The client wants to change the type of translation hosting for their bilingual website, moving the English version from a subdirectory on a German domain to a new .com domain. They are unsure how to configure the hosting and domain settings for this change.
Solution:
1. Ensure that all domains or subdomains point to the same WordPress installation where WPML is installed. This setup allows both the original and the new domain to access the same site content and translations.
2. Do not duplicate the site onto another hosting as it will create two separate, unconnected installations. Instead, configure the new domain as an alias in your server settings, pointing it to the existing site installation.
3. If encountering issues with domain validation, temporarily deactivate the "Validate on save" option, enter your new domain, save the changes, and test the domain. Reactivate the validation once you confirm the domain works correctly.
For detailed guidance on setting up different domains for each language, visit WPML documentation on using different domains per language.

If this solution does not resolve your issue or seems outdated, please check the related known issues, verify the version of the permanent fix, and confirm that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If further assistance is needed, we recommend opening a new support ticket at WPML support forum.

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Tagged: Documentation request

This topic contains 4 replies, has 1 voice.

Last updated by Andrey 19 minutes ago.

Assisted by: Andrey.

Author	Posts
February 25, 2025 at 2:03 pm #16746215
olenaV-3	Background of the issue: I have a bilingual website with the main language as German on the domain hidden link, and it is translated into English in the hidden link directory. I want to change the type of translation hosting to a new hidden link domain for the English version. Symptoms: The provider cannot understand the instructions I sent regarding changing the translation hosting to a new domain. Questions: Do I need to make an English-language copy of the site on the hosting and link it to hidden link domain? Can I just direct the IP of the hidden link domain to hidden link
February 25, 2025 at 8:15 pm #16747894
Andrey Supporter Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский ) Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+02:00)	While one of my teammates addresses your ticket, I will provide you with some initial debugging steps. You need to ensure that all your domains (or subdomains) point to the same WordPress site where WPML is installed. For more information, please visit the following link: https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/language-setup/language-url-options/how-to-use-wpml-with-different-domains-per-language/
February 25, 2025 at 11:06 pm #16748521
olenaV-3	Thank you, I started with this very instruction you sent and sent it to the IONOS provider. But their response was that it was impossible. I set the IP address in the A-record and AAAA record for the @ and www of the example.com domain myself, pointing to the domain example.de. But this is still unsuccessful (less than 72 hours have passed). When I repeatedly contacted support, they suggested buying a new hosting, making a copy of the site, and linking it through canonical links. Your instructions do not mention a duplicate site, so this does not match what my provider is telling me. I really need to clarify this point, because the site owner is already ready to buy a new hosting package.
February 27, 2025 at 8:12 pm #16758065
Andrey Supporter Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский ) Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+02:00)	Thank you for your feedback. Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with how the IONOS hosting provider operates. To set up a second domain locally, I would typically point the second domain to the local server and configure it as an alias in the server settings. This works because the main idea is to direct both domains to the same installation. If you duplicate your site, you will end up with two separate, unconnected sites. This means that any translations or changes you make on one site will not appear on the duplicated site, which is a separate installation. I recommend deactivating the "Validate on save" option, entering your second domain, saving your changes, and then testing the domain to see if it works. Sometimes, the validation message can be a false positive. After translating the page, check if you can access it using your secondary domain. If it doesn't work, your second domain is not configured correctly.
February 28, 2025 at 7:45 pm #16762605
olenaV-3	Thank you, I had the same logic. Unfortunately, the provider could not do this for the site owner. It's still not clear whether they didn't want to deal with it or the service doesn't allow it. But this is no longer relevant to my question. You have answered it. The ticket can be closed
February 28, 2025 at 8:04 pm #16762645
Andrey Supporter Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский ) Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+02:00)	Have a nice weekend 🙂