Internal Links in the Elementor Pro Default Text Editor are not being translated

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

Problem:
You are translating your site from English to Portuguese using WPML and Elementor Pro Text Editor. Although the Advanced Translation Editor (ATE) identifies and locks internal links with a message that they will be auto-translated later, the links still point to the English version after scanning.
Solution:
1. Ensure that the link fields inside the ATE are locked. When they are locked, WPML will automatically apply internal redirections once the linked content is translated. If you unlock these fields, you must manually translate the URLs.
2. If you are using a text widget that includes an HTML link, WPML might not recognize this as an internal link, and you will need to manually translate it. This is because, currently, WPML handles link fields inside widgets automatically, but not HTML links within text fields.

Please note that this solution might be outdated or not applicable to your specific case. 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 the issue persists, please open a new support ticket at WPML support forum.

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Tagged: ATE, Documentation request

This topic contains 25 replies, has 0 voices.

Last updated by costa-ricaS 2 months ago.

Assisted by: Andreas W..

Author	Posts
May 29, 2025 at 11:21 pm #17090069
costa-ricaS	Background of the issue: I am currently translating my site from English to Portuguese using WPML. All Portuguese pages are drafts for now. I am using the default Elementor Pro Text Editor, which should be compatible without issues. Symptoms: When I scan to translate all the internal links, they do not get translated. In the ATE translator, they are identified and locked with a message stating they will be auto-translated later. However, scanning links states that it translated all of them, but they still point to the English version. Questions: Why are the internal links not being translated even though they are identified in the ATE translator? How can I ensure that the internal links point to the Portuguese version after translation?
May 29, 2025 at 11:53 pm #17090149
Andreas W. WPML Supporter since 12/2018 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) German (Deutsch ) Timezone: America/Lima (GMT-05:00)	Hello, This must be related to the fact that Portuguese pages have not yet been published. WordPress has not yet created a permalink for them while they are saved as draft. Best regards Andreas
May 30, 2025 at 12:12 am #17090166
costa-ricaS	Hi Andreas, When I test the urls in PT even before publishing, they do work for example /hotels in pt-br is /hoteis and it does resolve. If I publish all PT pages before the full translation is completed, including, a few templates and sliders and some widgets. Wouldn't all those pages be sent to Google via sitemap? I don't want to put up a robots.txt no index on /pt-br/, because I want a clean launch of the new translation. Best regards, Antonio
May 30, 2025 at 12:30 am #17090169
costa-ricaS	Sorry, I forgot to say, all the Menu items have already synchronized correctly. So if you go to /pt-br, and see the menu items, they are all in PT. Best Regards
May 30, 2025 at 12:46 am #17090200
Andreas W. WPML Supporter since 12/2018 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) German (Deutsch ) Timezone: America/Lima (GMT-05:00)	I would suggest you first make sure to complete and publish all the translations. You can go to WPML > Languages > Hide languages and hide any second language for visitors and search engines. Guide: https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/language-setup/hiding-languages-on-the-front-end/ For admins, you find an option on their profile that must be enabled so that admin can see hidden content: Profile > WPML language settings: Hidden languages: All languages are currently displayed. Choose what to do when site languages are hidden. - Display hidden languages If after completing all the translations you still experience issues we can offer to investigate. Unless you currently have an example of an internal link working as expected, even while the content you are linking to has been translated and published and relative templates have been translated and published as well.
May 30, 2025 at 1:03 am #17090219
costa-ricaS	Hi again, Here is a page example hidden link Thanks for the Hide Language, I had already done that, so thanks for confirming I am safe for now. I have translated all layout templates to PT already, just missing the main header which is handled by WP Astra Pro and not Elementor. Best regards, Antonio
May 30, 2025 at 2:33 pm #17092615
Andreas W. WPML Supporter since 12/2018 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) German (Deutsch ) Timezone: America/Lima (GMT-05:00)	Hello, I would like to request temporary access (wp-admin and FTP) to the website to investigate the issue further. You can find the required fields below the comments section when you log in to leave the next reply. The information you provide is private, meaning only you and I can see and access it. IMPORTANT Please be sure to back up your website and database before granting us access. If you can't see the "wp-admin / FTP" fields, your post and website credentials will be set to "PUBLIC." DO NOT publish the data unless you see the required wp-admin / FTP fields. The private reply form looks like this: hidden link Click "I still need assistance" the next time you reply. Video: hidden link Please note that we are required to request this information individually on each ticket. We are not permitted to access any credentials that were not specifically submitted on this ticket using the private response form. Best regards, Andreas
May 30, 2025 at 5:41 pm #17093067
Andreas W. WPML Supporter since 12/2018 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) German (Deutsch ) Timezone: America/Lima (GMT-05:00)	The link fields inside the Advanced Translation Editor are by default locked and as long they are locked, WPML will apply internal redirections automatically once the content you are linking to has been translated. In your case, various of those link fields have been unlocked but are not translated. If you unlock those fields you will need to manually translate the URLs.
May 30, 2025 at 5:49 pm #17093073
costa-ricaS	Hi. Can you point me to the fields that need to be locked again? I don't want to manually translate all links or redirect them myself. Can you please lock them for me? Best regards, Antonio
May 30, 2025 at 5:58 pm #17093096
Andreas W. WPML Supporter since 12/2018 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) German (Deutsch ) Timezone: America/Lima (GMT-05:00)	If you open the translation for the mentioned page in your example you can see the unlocked link fields on the segments of the Advanced Translations. If you are logged in right now you can access the job here: hidden link There is sadly no option to lock those links again, once they have been unlocked. See screenshot: The first link is locked by default. The second link has been unlocked by the user.
May 30, 2025 at 6:02 pm #17093135
costa-ricaS	I don't see any screenshot. Is there no way to edit this via Database?
May 30, 2025 at 6:03 pm #17093136
costa-ricaS	I opened that page on ATE and all links appear locked to me
May 30, 2025 at 6:28 pm #17093258
Andreas W. WPML Supporter since 12/2018 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) German (Deutsch ) Timezone: America/Lima (GMT-05:00)	Sorry about the missing screenshot. I have attached it now. You need to click on the segments to see the locked/unlocked link fields. There is no way to edit these fields on the database, as the Advanced Translation Editor runs on an external server, outside of WordPress.
May 30, 2025 at 7:07 pm #17093319
costa-ricaS	Can I undo the translations and retranslate them, this is not happening only on this page. It happens on pages I didn't unlock any links on them, so it's widespread on the website. Is there a setting on WPML that I need to turn on or off to fix this for future translations to other languages?
May 30, 2025 at 7:25 pm #17093351
Andreas W. WPML Supporter since 12/2018 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) German (Deutsch ) Timezone: America/Lima (GMT-05:00)	If you suspect that the issue occurs also on links that are not unlocked then you need to provide me an exact example and I will be glad to investigate. I need a link to the page where the issue appears and the link that you are trying to translate. --- There is no way to lock the link fields again. You could try to edit the links on the original content and save them again. Or you could try to cancel the current jobs at WPML > Translation Management > Jobs and then create a new translation, but I have not tested this behavior yet, to be honest. Further, I could try to reset the translation memory for the site, but this would mean that all saved translations inside the Advanced Translation Editors memory will be emptied and need to be created again. The unlocked link fields should not affect future translations, as those fields are unlocked only on existing jobs.