[Resolved] Language switch only displays current language
This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.
Problem: The client is experiencing issues with a WPML language switcher only displaying the current language and not linking pages correctly across languages. Specifically, the homepage translation was initiated but could not be linked to its counterpart in another language. Solution: 1. To address the issue of the language switcher only showing the current language and to link the pages correctly, we recommend following the steps outlined in https://wpml.org/faq/how-to-link-already-translated-pages/. 2. If a translation was mistakenly initiated and needs to be unlinked, navigate to the backend, switch to the appropriate language, and access the 'Pages' list. Hover over the page, select 'Edit', and in the Languages section, change 'This is a translation of' by selecting the empty field and saving. This action will unlink the translation. 3. After unlinking, you can reconnect the page to the correct translation by following the initial linking steps again.
If these steps do not resolve your issue or if the solution seems outdated or irrelevant to your specific case, we highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the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 further assistance is needed, please open a new support ticket at WPML support forum.
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Background of the issue:
I am trying to use WPML on my site hidden link to display a language switcher. I duplicated the pages in their original language and then assigned them to the second language.
Symptoms:
The language switcher only displays the current language, and the pages in both languages are not linked.
Questions:
How can I fix the issue where the language switcher only displays the current language?
How can I link the pages in both languages correctly?
Usually, I duplicate them from WPML > Translation Management > and that duplicates them to another language of your choice (so they stay connected) and then, from the top black bar in the backend, you can switch the language, go to "Pages" main list and then edit the duplicated page.
I hope that you will find this information helpful.
I’ve already connected the translations, but I can’t do it for the homepage (see screenshot). I want to link it to an existing page, but the system doesn’t allow me to. It seems that a translation was already initiated, so I tried to cancel it, but it’s not working.
Also, the language switcher isn’t respecting the settings — it only displays the current language, and the option to switch to the second language is missing.
I'm more than happy to take a closer look at this.
I would like to kindly request temporary access (wp-admin and FTP) to your site in order to examine the issue thoroughly. The necessary fields can be found below the comment area. When you log in to leave your next reply, please be assured that the information you enter is private and will only be visible to you and me.
Our Debugging Procedures
I will thoroughly review various settings in the backend to determine if the issue can be resolved. While I will not make changes that affect the live site, it is still advisable to back up the site before granting us access. Should further debugging be necessary, I will create a duplicate and work in a separate, local development environment to avoid any impact on the live site.
- Before granting us access, please ensure that the site files and database are backed up.
If you do not see the wp-admin/FTP fields, please refrain from posting your website details, as they will be made public. Kindly request I enable the private box if you do not see the required wp-admin/FTP fields. You can find the private box by following this link: hidden link
Focusing on the home page, I clicked the "Gear" icon and it took me here, to the "Edit translation" page: hidden link
However, there's no content on the right, so that's probably why there's no translation.
Please complete the fields with the translation, ensure all "traduccion terminada" checkboxes are checked (so that the translation progress percentage at the top reaches 100%), and then save the page.
However, this method didn’t work for the homepage — possibly because a translation process was already initiated using the standard two-column translator.
Is there a way to delete or cancel that initiated translation, so we can link “Inicio nueva” (ES) to “Accueil” (FR)?
You can unlink a translation and then reconnect it with the correct page. While you are in the backend, you can click on the black bar at the top to switch to the French back-end. Then, go to the main "Pages" list > hover your mouse over it > and select the first "Edit" option. You will probably see a prompt asking you if you want to edit it with the WordPress Editor, so select "Edit anyway".
Then, on the right sidebar, in the Languages section, you can change "This is a translation of" by clicking on the dropdown and selecting the empty field > then save.
I went to the French pages, and there is no page linked to the Spanish homepage (“Inicio nueva”).
As I already mentioned, we need to link the page “Inicio nueva” (ES) to “Accueil” (FR). Unfortunately, we’re unable to do it. It appears a screen with this message:
"Translation is in progress. Please wait before editing".
It seems a translation was initiated. However, we don't want to continue this transaction. We want to remove it, so we can link the page to “Accueil” (FR).
I went to the French pages, and there is no page linked to the Spanish homepage (“Inicio nueva”).
It seems a translation was initiated. However, we don't want to continue this transaction. We want to remove it, so we can link this page to an existing one: “Accueil” (FR).
