Best way to translate custom template sections in Elementor

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

Problem:
The client is using Elementor Pro and wants to translate sections created as Elementor Templates while maintaining the visual layout in both languages. They are encountering an issue where the base language is incorrectly set, and they are unsure if using String Translations is the correct approach for translating these templates.
Solution:
1) To maintain the same layout in every language, we recommend following this documentation on translating Elementor Templates with WPML: https://wpml.org/documentation/plugins-compatibility/elementor/
2) If different layouts per language are desired, this documentation provides the best approach: https://wpml.org/documentation/plugins-compatibility/elementor/creating-different-elementor-templates-per-language-with-wpml/
3) If the translated template does not display correctly on the frontend, ensure to provide WPML support debug information from your site by following these steps: https://wpml.org/faq/provide-debug-information-faster-support/
4) Check if the template was translated manually or automatically. If automatic, try making a small change in the default language and re-translate manually. Verify if the WPML editor shows any content for translation, as some widgets might not be compatible with WPML.

If these steps do not resolve your issue or if the documentation links are outdated, we highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have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. If further assistance is needed, please open a new support ticket at WPML support forum.

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Tagged: Documentation request

This topic contains 13 replies, has 1 voice.

Last updated by Dražen 1 month, 3 weeks ago.

Assisted by: Dražen.

Author	Posts
February 24, 2025 at 3:00 pm #16741732
kellyD-4	Background of the issue: I work with Elementor Pro and have some sections created as Elementor Templates, such as the Call to action block on the bottom of each page. I want to translate these sections, ensuring the visual layout remains the same in both languages. I considered using String Translations. Symptoms: I get the wrong language as the base language, even though I am sure my base language was set to NL. Questions: What is the best way to translate custom template sections in Elementor? Is using String Translations the correct approach for translating Elementor Templates? Can you provide more detailed documentation or guidance on translating Elementor Templates?
February 24, 2025 at 4:40 pm #16742251
Otto WPML Supporter since 09/2015 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Timezone: America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires (GMT-03:00)	Thank you for contacting WPML support. While you are waiting for one of my colleagues to take this ticket and work on it, let me provide you with the first debugging steps or if I can help with the issue quickly. If you want the same layout in every language I suggest following this documentation: https://wpml.org/documentation/plugins-compatibility/elementor/ If you want different layouts per language, this is the best approach: https://wpml.org/documentation/plugins-compatibility/elementor/creating-different-elementor-templates-per-language-with-wpml/ Best Regards, Otto
February 25, 2025 at 7:40 pm #16747752
kellyD-4	Hi Otto, I tried to follow your instruction: https://wpml.org/documentation/plugins-compatibility/elementor/ Option 1: translation management: your manual, (which could really need a nice explanatory video btw), tells me to "Choose a translation method and Translate". But there are no methods available...so what should I choose This article has a link to a page where you can read about different design templates, bu t it does not say anything at all about translation of templates. So, what to do? I already added a screenshot of the string translation, which shows Dutch txt in the En version? Plz help me out here, thanks!
February 25, 2025 at 7:53 pm #16747788
kellyD-4	Hi another short update: I found out now that in Translation Management you also need to select 1 item, to trigger the translation option, so I tried this for the CTA template. The translation should be completed, as you can see from the screenshots, but unfortunately on the front-end nothing happened. Plz advise 🙂
February 25, 2025 at 8:11 pm #16747840
kellyD-4	Ok, another update 🙂 On the Elementor website I found that I need to use another method to display the template in multilanguage, namely: hidden link I have tried this and now apparently I have another footer template for the English version (which is empty). Now, I am confused which method to use, because the method you offer doesn't work and doesn't comply with what Elementor itself advises. And the Elementor method is far from optimal since I need to duplicate my template parts in that case. Which is, from a maintance standpoint, not the most efficient solution? Plz advice...again 🙂
February 25, 2025 at 8:24 pm #16747918
kellyD-4	Update nr....x: I copied my Dutch footer template parts to my EN footer. Still would like confirmation whether I'm doing this the way it should be done.
February 27, 2025 at 7:38 am #16754240
Dražen Supporter Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Europe/Zagreb (GMT+02:00)	Hello, thanks for coming back. Method you shared from Elementor is if you want to have templates with different design, it is same method you can find in our docs. You should not use this method if you wish to have only translated template. To translate templates you should use 1st method, via Translation management. I see you have translated template but it still does not show correctly on frontend, so lets see what is wrong. 1) In order to expedite handling your support requests, can you please share WPML support debug information from your site. - To give debug information, login to your site and go to WPML → Support. From there click on the “debug information” link at the bottom of the page. - Once on the “debug information” page, select the entire content of the text box and copy it. - Now go back to our support forum, find debug information box and paste it. More information on the link: https://wpml.org/faq/provide-debug-information-faster-support/ 2) Did you translate the template yourself or send it for automatic translation? If automatic, can you make a small change to the default language and re-translate it again but this time translate it yourself? Let me know if you actually see any content for translation inside the WPML editor, since could be you are building this with widgets that are not compatible with WPML so they do not show for translation. Let me know how it goes, and I will advise next steps. Thanks, Drazen
February 28, 2025 at 2:01 pm #16761143
kellyD-4	Hi Drazen, 1. Ok, thanks, I understand now perfect. Thanks for clarifying this. 2. I have translated manually Only thing I need help with the String Translation of the template content. Could you instruct me on this? I know the basics, but now I see that English is the "first" language, but that should be NL? That make me unsure of the solution 🙂 Thanks again!
February 28, 2025 at 2:06 pm #16761156
Dražen Supporter Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Europe/Zagreb (GMT+02:00)	Hello, thanks. You should not use String translation for translating the content, you should translate the template it via WPML > Translation Managment as explained in our docs. As for template language, most likely, you have created it as the default in this language. When you edit template, there is a language section in the sidebar where you can change the language: https://wpml.org/faq/how-to-link-already-translated-pages/ Otherwise, you can delete it and create a new template, making sure the default language you are creating it in is correct. Regards, Drazen
February 28, 2025 at 2:26 pm #16761303
kellyD-4	I think I found out what to do: 1. Select string for String translation 2. Change language of selected strings 3. Translate to English Et voila, works for me Is this correct?
February 28, 2025 at 3:36 pm #16761707
kellyD-4	I have done most of the translation, but some of the headers won't show in string translation? See my screenshot
March 3, 2025 at 7:37 am #16767020
Dražen Supporter Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Europe/Zagreb (GMT+02:00)	Hello, 1) As I have said and my colleague have shared you should use WPML editor and translation management to translate templates, not string translation, as it can cause issues in the future. 2) As I can see, these are post titles, make sure post is translated and its title is correct. Since we limit 1 issue per ticket, if you still need our help, please open a new ticket, and we would be glad to help further on this. Regards, Drazen
March 3, 2025 at 9:57 am #16767911
kellyD-4	Hi Drazen, 1. I already have translated the elementor templates as you suggested, using string translation. So far, so good. 2. But you are incorrect about the other issue: this is not the title of the post. In the template I'm using a separate Heading field (h3) widget (see attached screenshot). I can't explain why this is not in string translation, while the Text widget below the Heading widget is in there? New threads created by Dražen and linked to this one are listed below: https://wpml.org/forums/topic/split-title-is-not-translatable/
March 3, 2025 at 10:58 am #16768443
Dražen Supporter Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Europe/Zagreb (GMT+02:00)	Hello, thanks. It could be if the Elementor widget is coming from some 3rd party plugin/theme and is not compatible. I have open new ticket for this and lets continue to check there: - https://wpml.org/forums/topic/split-title-is-not-translatable/ Regards, Drazen