[Resolved] Change Default Language & Removing Other language permanently
This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.
Problem: The client is trying to change the default language of their WordPress site to English and remove the German language permanently using WPML. They encountered an issue where the process to remove the German language never completed, and they did not receive a prompt to assign existing English content as the original content. Solution: If you're experiencing incomplete removal of a secondary language, we recommend re-enabling the secondary language via WPML > Languages > Edit Languages. Then, manually delete any remaining content associated with that language. After clearing the content, you can remove the language again from the same section. To assign existing English content as the original, you will need to manually disconnect the translations from the default language. You can follow this guide to disconnect translations: https://wpml.org/faq/how-to-disconnect-translations-from-the-default-language-page-or-post/ After disconnecting, you can relink the translated content using this method: https://wpml.org/faq/how-to-link-already-translated-pages/ We recommend performing these steps before attempting to remove the language again.
If this solution does not resolve your issue, or if it seems outdated or irrelevant to your case, please open a new support ticket. We also 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. For further assistance, you can contact us directly through the WPML support forum.
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Background of the issue:
I am trying to change the default language of my WordPress site to English and remove the German language permanently. I have followed the steps to set English as the default language and attempted to remove German using WPML. I am using the site hidden link and have backed up my website files and database.
Symptoms:
The process to remove the German language never finished, and I did not receive a prompt to assign existing English content as the original content.
Questions:
How can I successfully change the default language to English and ensure existing English content is assigned as the original content?
What should I do if the process to remove the German language does not complete?
If the removal of a secondary language was incomplete, it’s likely that some content—such as CPTs, taxonomies, or media—was not fully removed. To resolve this, you can re-enable the secondary language via WPML > Languages > Edit Languages, then manually delete any remaining content associated with that language. Once that’s done, you can remove the language again from the same section.
Thanks for the quick update. I’m reviewing the links you shared, and they’re helpful.
However, I’d like to understand better how to handle Custom Post Types (CPTs) and ACF fields in this context. Specifically, how can I ensure they're properly separated from the default (previous) translation so they’re treated as original English content going forward?
Thanks for your reply. I’ve recorded a screen recording here: hidden link to show you how I disconnected the Dutch (secondary) language page from the English (primary) version and then reassigned Dutch as the primary language.
Here are the steps I followed:
1. I opened the Dutch (translated) page and disconnected it from the English primary language.
2. After saving the page, I clicked on “Connect Translation.”
3. When the pop-up appeared, I selected the English page as the translation.
4. Finally, I set the Dutch page as the new primary language.
Thanks again for the video and detailed steps — they were very helpful.
I’ve successfully disconnected the translations and reassigned the primary language as needed. However, I’m now encountering an issue where some ACF fields tied to the original German content are still showing up in filters, even though I’ve removed the language and cleaned up ghost entries and cache from the support section.
Could you please guide me on how to properly remove or disassociate ACF field data stored in the database (specifically for Custom Post Types) that originated from the removed German version, so they don’t appear in filters or interfere with the English content?
I will need to closely examine your website. Therefore, I will require temporary access (WP-Admin and FTP) to a test site where the problem has been replicated, if possible. This will enable me to provide better assistance and determine if any configurations need to be modified.
Please note that it is important to have a backup for security purposes and to prevent any potential data loss. You can use the UpdraftPlus plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/updraftplus/) to fulfill your backup requirements.
Your upcoming reply will be treated with confidentiality and will only be visible to you and me.
✙ To resolve the issue, I may need your consent to deactivate and reactivate plugins and the theme, as well as make configuration changes on the site if necessary. This emphasizes the significance of having a backup.
