Backend language translations are inverted

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

Problem:
The client experienced an issue where the language settings in the backend were inverted after changing the default language in WPML to Traditional Chinese. Specifically, the language setting at the top showed English while the backend displayed Chinese, and vice versa.
Solution:
We advised the client to avoid changing the default language in WPML->Language unless necessary, as it can cause display issues in the backend. The backend language is controlled by the USER profile settings on wp.com. We recommended setting the admin language as the editing language in the user profile settings to ensure consistency. Additionally, we suggested regenerating the .mo files via WPML->Support->Troubleshooting to correct any language display issues.

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This topic is split from https://wpml.org/forums/topic/split-brand-page-cant-be-found/

Tagged: Exception

This topic contains 5 replies, has 0 voices.

Last updated by chun-haoH 2 months, 3 weeks ago.

Assisted by: Bobby.

Author	Posts
April 3, 2025 at 11:07 pm #16894883
chun-haoH	Thank you very much! The issue has been resolved! However, when I changed the default language in the backend back to Traditional Chinese, I encountered the same issue again. On some pages, the language setting at the top and the displayed language are reversed (the language setting at the top shows English, while the backend page displays Chinese, and vice versa). Example of the error page:hidden link Please Bob Support to help me resolve this issue. If possible, I would also appreciate a screen recording of the process to fix it. Once again, thank you so much for your assistance, Bob Support!
April 3, 2025 at 11:08 pm #16894884
Bobby WPML Supporter since 04/2015 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: America/Los_Angeles (GMT-07:00)	Hi there, I have reviewed this and escalated it for our team to take a closer look. We will update you here as soon as there are news.
April 4, 2025 at 10:00 pm #16899159
Bobby WPML Supporter since 04/2015 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: America/Los_Angeles (GMT-07:00)	Hi there, What are your results if you go to your profile -> edit your profile and select "English" or "Chinese" for example then update? Also, what are your results if you switch to Blocksy (not the child theme) or Storefront as a test, does the issue persist?
April 5, 2025 at 6:43 am #16899415
chun-haoH	Currently, the language under Profile → Your Profile is set to Traditional Chinese, but the admin interface still displays in English.(img 1-1, img 1-2) Additionally, the language setting in Settings → General is locked to English, even though the language is set to Traditional Chinese in the two locations mentioned in the prompt.(img 2-1, img 2-2)
April 7, 2025 at 9:50 pm #16906455
Bobby WPML Supporter since 04/2015 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: America/Los_Angeles (GMT-07:00)	If possible you should avoid at all costs changing the Default language in WPML->Language. Doing that can cause issues so I'd only do this if you are planning on creating content on the other langauge and the changes needs to happen. What controls the backend language is the USER profile language ---> the area where it's controlled by wp.com when I do a test on my staging site it works well because i can control that from my side. What are your results if you choose in the user profile setting "set admin language as editing language"
April 8, 2025 at 12:51 pm #16909426
chun-haoH	Yes, I have never changed the default language in WPML -> Language — it has always been set to Traditional Chinese. In the USER profile language settings (wp.com), it is correctly set to Traditional Chinese, as shown in the attached image (img 1-1). I have already selected “set admin language as editing language,” but it doesn’t seem to work. When I select English in the top bar, the page below does not switch to Chinese. However, when I select Chinese in the top bar, the page below still remains in English. Attached images: Img 2-1, Img 2-2, Img 2-3. New threads created by Bobby and linked to this one are listed below: https://wpml.org/forums/topic/split-wc-dates-are-not-translating/
April 9, 2025 at 6:07 pm #16915526
Bobby WPML Supporter since 04/2015 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: America/Los_Angeles (GMT-07:00)	Would it be possible to allow me to access the USER Edit profile? You might need to give me a standard access username / password and not via the access link with a temporary login. Also, if you have FTP access details please share those with me as well.
April 10, 2025 at 8:45 pm #16920458
Bobby WPML Supporter since 04/2015 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: America/Los_Angeles (GMT-07:00)	Thank you, It looks like it's working as expected now, if I am using CN it shows CN and same for EN without mixing them. I did not make any changes, however today I was able to force the site to re run the .mo files (this controls the backend language) which are pulled from WordPress. If the issue with the inverted language is resolved, let's split this format issue into it's own as I am not able to see the reason this is happening after reviewing it and will need to escalate.
April 12, 2025 at 4:12 pm #16925454
chun-haoH	Yes, I did see a prompt about loading the .mo files when I opened WPML. May I ask how I can manually trigger or operate the loading of .mo files myself? Alright, the language inversion issue has indeed been resolved. Please help me split the date format issue into a separate case. Thank you very much!
April 14, 2025 at 8:47 pm #16931219
Bobby WPML Supporter since 04/2015 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: America/Los_Angeles (GMT-07:00)	You can trigger the .mo file pop up via WPML->Support->Troubleshooting there is a button at the end of the page asking you to trigger the .mo file regeneration box.
April 15, 2025 at 5:51 pm #16935734
chun-haoH	Got it! Thank you so much.