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[Resolved] Cannot remove a language

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

Problem:
The client is attempting to remove the French language from their site to free up database space and improve site performance. They tried to remove the language by deselecting it in the 'Add / Remove languages' section and saving, but the site just reloads without any changes. Additionally, attempting to remove French caused critical errors on some pages, including the inability to display the product list in the backend.

Solution:
We recommend following the steps outlined in our documentation to properly remove a language and its content, which will help free up space in the database. Here is the step-by-step guide:

  1. Go to WPML > Support > Troubleshooting.
  2. Look for 'Reset' and click on 'I am about to reset all translation and language data.'
  3. Click on the 'Reset and deactivate WPML' button to remove all translations and deactivate WPML.

Please refer to our documentation for more detailed instructions: Deleting languages and plugin data by doing a WPML reset on your site.

If this solution does not seem relevant to your situation, please open a new support ticket in our support forum.

This is the technical support forum for WPML - the multilingual WordPress plugin.

Everyone can read, but only WPML clients can post here. WPML team is replying on the forum 6 days per week, 22 hours per day.

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This topic contains 1 reply, has 2 voices.

Last updated by Bruno Kos 1 year, 7 months ago.

Assisted by: Bruno Kos.

Author Posts
October 16, 2023 at 11:10 am #14583931

maartenD-15

I am trying to:
Remove french from my site since current database isn't big enough to store all duplicated products. + site slows down a lot

Link to a page where the issue can be seen:
hidden link

I expected to see:
French removed from everything after deselecting it in "Add / Remove languages" and pressing "save".

Instead, I got:
Site reloads for a while and nothing changes.
October 16, 2023 at 12:10 pm #14584331

Bruno Kos
WPML Supporter since 12/2018

Languages: English (English ) German (Deutsch ) French (Français )

Timezone: Europe/Zagreb (GMT+02:00)

Hi,

Thank you for contacting WPML support!

By removing the language in the way you're trying to do, it will not remove the translations or any other content of that language.

This can be done like this - only this will free up your space in database.
https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/language-setup/deleting-languages-and-plugin-data-by-doing-a-wpml-reset-on-your-site/#step-1-remove-the-secondary-languages-and-all-existing-translations

Did you try this?

Regards,
Bruno Kos
October 20, 2023 at 4:08 pm #14625975

maartenD-15

Hi Bruno,

Thanks for your reply!

After trying this, my site began breaking down in some pages. As in error pages appear that a critical error had happened.
Showing the product list in the backend for example was impossible.

Maybe this happened because I tried removing French the other way first which was already acting weird.

I solved this by reverting my files and database back one day. Luckily I didn't do any other things that day.

Regards,
Maarten